New Rooms and Garden Views at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice

Beds now face the garden wherever the building allows it. It is a small detail, but it sits at the centre of what Cornwall Hospice has tried to do with the latest round of work at its Mount Edgcumbe Hospice.

📷Jane, Chair of Trustees cuts the ribbon

What has changed

The charity has completed the Capital Funding project at Mount Edgcumbe, part of its wider Fit For The Future programme. The work was designed to improve patient care, privacy and comfort, and to create a more welcoming and sustainable space for families, staff and volunteers.

One of the most significant additions is a new two-bed assessment area for urgent palliative care, which means patients can be assessed promptly before they are admitted. The hospice has also brought in four new single occupancy rooms with private ensuites. These replace older ward spaces and give patients greater dignity.

A separate inpatient entrance has been created to make arrival easier, and the former outpatients area has been turned into a new Clinical Therapies Hub.

George Elworthy, Head of Hospice Services, was the project lead. He set out how the wider changes will shape the experience for people coming into the hospice.

“The new canopy and visitor entrance, upgraded entrance doors and windows, and improvements to the external areas have emphasised the calming feel of the hospice, all while also boosting our energy efficiency. Accessibility has also been strengthened through the addition of a fully accessible bathroom, alongside wider infrastructure improvements that support security and the delivery of modern care. Across the building, patient rooms have been refurbished so that beds face garden views wherever possible, reinforcing our focus on calm and wellbeing. We truly believe the changes will make things easier for our patients and their families when they come into our care.”

The charity says the work does not stop here. There are now plans to improve the outdoor spaces at both St Julia’s and Mount Edgcumbe hospices, so the natural environment keeps playing a part in patient comfort.

📷Claire, Ward Sister, Jane, Chair of Trustees and Janet, Ward Clerk

How it was paid for

The project was funded through a mix of grants and donations, with a contribution from the charity’s own reserves.

Will Hood, Finance Director at Cornwall Hospice, thanked the organisations behind it.

“We are very grateful to all the funders that made this project possible, their contributions have made a real difference, helping us to make every moment matter for our patients. Due to the timing of the project, we were fortunate to receive a share of capital funding from the Department of Health and Social Care. We were also successful in raising a significant amount of funds from a number of private trust and grant making bodies, including The Bradbury Foundation Hong Kong, Duchy Health Charity, The Wolfson Foundation and Garfield Weston Foundation.”

A record attempt to mark 45 years

The refurbishment lands as Cornwall Hospice celebrates its 45th year. To mark it, the charity is attempting to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the largest cream tea party on 19th September at the Royal Cornwall Showground. Details are at www.cornwallhospice.org/jamfirst.

📷Mount Edgcumbe Hospice Ariel View