Doing good for a vital service: National Highways supports St. Michael’s Hospice

Improvements to key facilities at St. Michael’s Hospice in Basingstoke were completed thanks to funding from National Highways’ Community Legacy Fund.

A bathroom renovation has made it accessible, comfortable and hygienic for patients and visitors. Improvements have transformed the reception area into a welcoming first point of entry for the hospice.

As the only hospice in North Hampshire, St Michael’s provides vital services that many people in the community rely on, including inpatient care, hospice at home, spiritual care and therapeutic support.

The facility is located along the M3 diversion route, where several National Highways projects have been taking place. In recognition of local people’s patience and understanding, the project team wanted to show their appreciation. The hospice was nominated by National Highways’ South East Construction Team to receive a donation from its Community Legacy Fund, helping to make this work possible.

Greg Stone, National Highways Route Manager for the M3, said: “By embedding community legacy work into our day-to-day operations, we can ensure that every project delivers a positive impact for the communities affected by our work.

“The previous bathroom facilities were outdated and no longer met the needs of patients, many of whom have complex mobility and care requirements. This is an extremely worthwhile cause, and we hope these improvements will benefit patients, their families and carers, for many years to come.”

Work to renovate the bathroom started in September last year. Staff members have also benefited from the upgrade, with one saying: “As a staff member who regularly uses the disabled toilet facilities, I have experienced a substantial improvement following the recent refurbishment. The installation of supportive grab rails, a raised toilet, and easily accessible hand soap and paper towel dispensers has significantly enhanced safety, comfort, and ease of use.”

Lorraine Pink, Deputy CEO & Director of Income Generation at St. Michael’s Hospice, said: “On behalf of everyone at the Hospice, I want to thank National Highways for their kindness and generous support. Improving our physical space for patients and families is just as important as the care we provide. Thanks to National Highways, we have been able to improve our facilities, making sure everyone who depends on our Hospice during difficult times is treated with dignity and enhanced quality of life.”

The original grant for a bathroom renovation was £8,337.70. With discounted rates secured for a significant portion of the work and labour costs, there was an underspend that National Highways agreed to put towards improvements to the reception area.