Wakefield Hospice has announced plans for a major transformation of its Inpatient Unit through a new project designed to ensure the hospice remains “Fit for the Future” for patients and families across the Wakefield district.
The redevelopment (known as our “Fit for the Future project”) will modernise the hospice’s existing facilities to better reflect modern expectations of privacy, dignity and family-centred end-of-life care.
Currently, the Inpatient Unit consists of eight single bedrooms and two three-bedded bays. While the care delivered remains of the highest standard, the physical environment no longer fully meets the needs of patients and their loved ones.
The Fit for the Future project, scheduled to begin at the end of March and be completed by the end of 2026, will transform the unit without the need for a costly extension. Once complete, the redevelopment will provide 16 single en-suite bedrooms, creating a more private and therapeutic environment for patients and families.
Tina Turner, Chief Executive at Wakefield Hospice, said: “With the need for specialist end-of-life care predicted to rise by 25% over the next 25 years, demand for our services is likely to follow the same trajectory, pushing our current set-up to breaking point.
“When surveyed over the past 12 months, 91% of our patients said it is “very important” to have their own private room, however, our current Inpatient Unit was designed for a very different era. Shared bays limit privacy, restrict visiting, and can make it harder for patients and families to feel truly at ease. They also reduce flexibility in care delivery and present challenges in meeting modern standards around infection control, accessibility and individualised support.
“Despite these limitations, demand for our services continues to grow. Without action, pressure on our facilities will increase, placing strain on staff, limiting patient choice and risking a care environment that no longer meets the needs of our community.
“The transformation of our Inpatient Unit will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity, not just for Wakefield Hospice but for our entire community, and we are excited to bring the benefits of this project to life.”
Alongside the development of new, and upgrading of existing, bedrooms, further improvements will also include: Improved patient and staff facilities within the Inpatient Unit; a new Family Room and additional Breakout Spaces for visitors; improvements to infection control measures and patient safety; the upgrading of key building systems and the addition of two extra Nurses Stations.
The project will be delivered in two phases, during Phase One (March-July 2026), eight new single en-suite bedrooms will be created within the existing footprint of the building, alongside a new nurses’ office and station, breakout spaces and a dedicated family room.
In Phase Two (July-December 2026), work will take place on the refurbishment and upgrading of the hospice’s existing bedrooms and supporting facilities, bringing them up to the same standard.
Throughout the project, the hospice will continue to provide care on the Inpatient Unit, with seven beds remaining operational at all times to ensure continuity of service.
Non-Inpatient Unit services, including bereavement support, outreach services, dementia care and complementary therapy, will continue as normal and are not expected to be affected.
The project has been funded through a variety of trusts and foundations, grants and large donations. As a charity, Wakefield Hospice receives just 25% of funding from government sources and obtaining this funding before committing to the project was deemed essential in order to protect vital regular sources of income remaining untouched and available to help fund their usual services.
Janet Millard, Director of Clinical Services at Wakefield Hospice, added: “The transformation of our hospice to sixteen individual rooms with additional breakout spaces will ensure we can give patients and their loved ones more opportunity to create memories and share precious moments.
“Our Fit for the Future project will help to make sure we can provide the very best personalised care, delivered in homely surroundings and tailored around every patient’s needs.
“We have worked carefully to plan the redevelopment so that patient safety, comfort and dignity remain protected throughout the construction period, and are liaising and working with care partner organisations across the district to ensure minimal disruption to services throughout the project.”
The construction work will be delivered by O&P Construction Services, a South Yorkshire-based contractor with more than 50 years of experience delivering large-scale projects, including within healthcare environments.
When complete, the project will represent a once-in-a-generation investment in end-of-life care for the Wakefield community, ensuring that future generations can access the highest quality palliative care in a setting designed for compassion, connection and dignity.
To find out more about the Fit for the Future project visit www.wakefieldhospice.org/fitforthefuture.
The promotional booklet for the project which contains further information, stats and quotes can be accessed at www.bit.ly/fftfbooklet
A flythrough video of the project has been developed which can be viewed here: www.bit.ly/fftfvideo
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