It is amazing to think that St Margaret's Hospice in Taunton is now over 20 years old, throughout that time thousands of patients and their families have received care and support. The hospice care extends across the whole of Somerset - St Margaret's is very much a local charity working within the community, caring for local people.
Over the last few years the Taunton Hospice has literally run out of space as services have expanded in order to allow patients to enjoy their lives to the last. Current facilities need to be modernised so the decision was taken to build a new inpatient wing. In May 2006, we launched an Appeal for £2 million to fund the creation of the new wing and bring the Taunton Hospice up to the same standards as its much younger 'sister' in Yeovil. In December 2007 we finally hit our £2,000,000 target for the building.
But of course that is not the end, we are now looking to raise an additional £500,000 to refurbish the old building and to develop a purpose built outpatient facility to help support our work in the community.
It is not well enough known that St. Margaret's nurses also work in people's homes allowing them to stay with their family and friends. Our aim is to keep patients free from pain and with their symptoms under control. On occasion we bring patients into our outpatient clinics to help us achieve this.
Up to now, the clinics have been shoe-horned in to any available space left. This has meant that some of the equipment that would assist in this treatment and the space required has been at a premium.
The £500,000 earmarked for this campaign will address this so please carry on giving us your support - the work still goes on to raise the money to complete the vision.
