Planning permission has been granted for a community hospice facility to be developed by St Elizabeth Hospice in Gorleston. On 11 September, planning permission was granted by Great Yarmouth Borough Council for the project which will utilise a seven-acre site previously secured by East Coast Hospice, with whom St Elizabeth Hospice merged in 2023.
This announcement follows St Elizabeth Hospice’s June 2025 planning variation application to build a community hospice. The facility will include an outpatient and community hub for day care patients and therapy services, a base for local hospice staff, a community café and an inpatient unit with up to 16 beds.
Judi Newman, St Elizabeth Hospice Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted that our planning application has been approved.
“This news is a real landmark moment and we can now move forward with making our vision for a community hospice a reality for the Great Yarmouth and Waveney community.
“Once more, we extend our thanks to the local community and stakeholders whose insights have shaped our plans. Together, we are working towards greater parity in palliative and end-of-life care for the area.”
The project builds on the dedication and vision of those who founded East Coast Hospice and will also see St Elizabeth Hospice partnering with the Louise Hamilton Trust, as part of a united approach to deliver high-quality end-of-life services for the local community.
Since April 2019, St Elizabeth Hospice has cared for more than 6,000 patients and their families in Great Yarmouth and Waveney, through their healthcare partnership with East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH).
The development of the community hospice facility will build upon and align with the hospice’s existing services in the area, with construction hoped to commence in 2026 and estimated to take up to two years for completion.
The need for a hospice building, serving the communities of Great Yarmouth and Waveney, can be seen via population trend research by the Office of National Statistics, highlighting how demand for palliative care will increase by 35% by 2040. Currently, only 2.1% of residents in Norfolk and Waveney die in a hospice – lower than the national average of 4.4% (PopNat Hospice UK 2024).
The hospice building will be operated by St Elizabeth Hospice and will stand as a tribute to all who have contributed to making the project a reality. St Elizabeth Hospice will continue to engage with key stakeholders and the local community, as the charity further develops its plans and considers important decisions, such as the naming of the site and facilities.
To find out more or to donate towards St Elizabeth Hospice’s services in Great Yarmouth and Waveney, please visit – www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/gorlestonhospice
To view the planning application please visit – https://planning.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/OcellaWeb/planningDetails?reference=06/25/0364/VCF&from=planningSearch
——————
About St Elizabeth Hospice
St Elizabeth Hospice improves life for people in East & Mid-Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney living with a progressive or life-limiting illness. Our work is centred on an individual’s needs, which means specialist support, whenever and wherever it is needed, whether at home, in the community or at the hospice. Through medicine and therapy we ease pain; we give life purpose and make life liveable.
About East Coast Community Healthcare
East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) is a Community Interest Company which provides NHS community health services across Norfolk and Waveney. Its headquarters are based in Lowestoft.
Services include district nursing, community in-patient services, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, specialist nursing care, palliative care and health improvement services.
As a social enterprise, ECCH is owned by its staff and uses any surplus resources for the benefit of communities in Norfolk and Waveney.
Further details about ECCH can be found at www.ecch.org.
About Louise Hamilton Trust
The Louise Hamilton Trust was established to create and support the work of The Louise Hamilton Centre in providing services for people with life limiting and progressive illness. While also working towards an ambition of improving palliative and end of life care to patients in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area of Norfolk.
——————-
Cover photo: Artist impression of the new Hospice Build
Leave a Reply