PLANNING consent has been granted to St. Luke's Hospice on a property at Lampits Hill, Corringham, to open a Community Support Centre.

This new venture will run as a satellite to the main Hospice at Nethermayne Basildon, and will be called 'St Luke's House.' The Hospice has for the past few years been increasing its services to the public which has put pressure on available accommodation.

Due to a fortuitous legacy donation the Hospice has been able to purchase this property to help alleviate the problem.

Lukes' the Hospice's specialist children's bereavement counselling service and Macmillan Dove Community Bereavement Service will be re-located to Luke's House at Lampits Hill, together with specific clinic time for Social Work & Bereavement Support Services, Complementary Therapies, South Essex Lymphoedema Service clinic and Macmillan Welfare Benefits Clinic.

As well as providing the above services this new property will also enable the Hospice to start a new concept in providing information, support and advice on an informal, easily accessible, user friendly call in' basis.

Deb Hickey Head of Care at St. Luke's said: "We are particularly glad about the development of our new advice, listening, support and information service which will ensure people can make informed choices about their care, treatment and life style options early in their diagnosis so preventing the development of crisis care situations."

Eileen Marshall, chief executive officer at St Luke's, said: "We are very pleased to have been granted planning consent to go ahead with this important development although a lot of work still lies ahead before we will be able to open - which we are hoping will be early in the New Year.

"The Trustees, Management and staff of St Luke's are continually working towards improving and extending services and have been looking at several innovative ways to manage this in a way that will work with and enhance existing services for some time now. This is welcome news that will enable Hospice care to extend further into the community."

St Luke's House, Community Support Centre, will be open 9am to 5pm with some extended evening opening.

Although service funding and running costs for this new venture will in the main be covered through available grants the Hospice says it is very grateful for the continuing public support and donations that enables them to provide a much needed care service to the community.

Spokesperson Marilyn DeBattista said: "Continuing public support is therefore vital to the progression of hospice work - one of the many ways we are looking to the public for support on this project is through volunteering.

"It is anticipated that the hospice will require volunteers to work in a variety of ways from gardening through to providing information and listening support for which full training will be given."

For further information on volunteering, contact the Volunteer co-ordinator at St Luke's Hospice on 01268 524973.