A NEW PURPOSE-BUILT specialist dementia and complex nursing home for residents in South Devon is the vision of Rowcroft Hospice Chief Executive Mark Hawkins, who recently met Central Devon MP and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride in Chudleigh to brief him on the hospice’s ambitious expansion plans.
A leading example of impeccable palliative and end-of-life care in Torquay, Rowcroft has secured planning permission to remodel the hospice as a new purpose-built Inpatient Unit with 14 single rooms for patients, all ensuite and with the latest facilities to support greater dignity and comfort; and for a new 60-bed specialist dementia and complex nursing home and 40 assisted living units. The nursing home and assisted living accommodation will meet a growing need in South Devon and generate valuable income for the hospice. As a charity, the hospice only receives government funding for about a quarter of its costs, with the remainder funded through donations, legacies and fundraising.
Mark explained how the nursing home intends to use the latest technology and artificial intelligence to support the delivery of exceptional care, having recently secured funding from The Health Foundation, with other projects in the pipeline to establish a model of care that others could emulate. Rowcroft is working hard to secure the funding needed to deliver the project and the designs have just won a Building Design Award which is a great validation of the plans. Rowcroft is also looking for local councils and NHS Devon to commission places for residents in the new home so that the vision can be delivered for the South Devon community.
Mark explained:
“South Devon’s ageing population needs the world-class specialist dementia and complex nursing home and the assisted living accommodation that I am hoping we can deliver. Planning permission was just the first of many hurdles – securing the funding to deliver them, as well as to remodel the hospice, will be the biggest.”
Mr Stride said:
“I was very impressed with Mark’s ambitious plans which would deliver state-of-the-art facilities for the benefit of residents across South Devon. I will certainly support the hospice’s fundraising efforts in any way I can.”
For more information about Rowcroft Hospice, including how to donate or help with fundraising, visit www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk.
