THE new day centre run by the Blaenau Gwent-based Hospice of the Valleys will be officially opened by health minister Mark Drakeford this month.

But it is already fulfilling its role of providing a spacious, more suitable environment for the patients the hospice supports.

Hospice of the Valleys provides free specialist palliative care for people in Blaenau Gwent with life-limiting illnesses. It moved from its former home in Tredegar to new premises at the Trade Team building in Festival Drive, Ebbw Vale, in November last year.

Besides providing more suitable office accommodation, the new building also offers a new day centre dedicated to patient care.

Health minister Mark Drakeford is due to attend the hospice on Wednesday April 15, when he will unveil a plaque in the new day centre and meet staff, volunteers and patients.

"We are very grateful to the Minister for agreeing to open our new day centre," said chief executive Andrew Richards.

"Previously, our clinics were run in community buildings around Blaenau Gwent, and while we very much appreciated being able to use those buildings, we were always looking for somewhere that would provide more modern facilities for our patients, that would improve confidentiality and the care we are able to offer.

"We are extremely pleased with the new accommodation, which provides far more office space for our staff and vastly improved facilities for our patients.

Soon the new day centre, which boasts four private consultation/treatment rooms, will be in use each day, offering a range of services, such as complementary therapies and physiotherapy.

The hospice’s palliative care consultant, and its team of clinical nurse specialists, social workers and therapists, will be able to hold consultations with patients in a more private and comfortable environment.

The centre will also give the hospice the chance to expand on and develop the work that took place in the former drop-in clinics.

"There is no doubt that this move will herald improved services for all our patients," said Sue Kent, chairman of the board of hospice trustees.