Official opening of Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham

Staff, trustees, volunteers, project sponsors and invited guests, including the Mayor of Wrexham, Cllr Andy Williams, gathered at Nightingale House Hospice for the celebration.

The refurbishment represents a milestone and huge investment in their commitment to providing exceptional care and support to individuals and families facing life-limiting illnesses.

Eluned Griffiths watches Andrea Chesworth cut the cake at Nightingale House Hospice.

Over the past five years, with support of many, they have invested more than £5million in the facilities, creating a warm, comforting environment conducive to compassionate care and dignity

Contractors Read Construction handed over the project in January. Hospice trustee and former Mayor of Wrexham, Joan Lowe said simply: "It's been a long time coming."

Andrea Chesworth's dad Ken Chesworth was a patient at Nightingale House, and she spoke about how important the place is to her family.

Nightingale House Hospice gardens.

She said: "I'm so grateful, without the hospice may dad wouldn't have got the care needed.

"His MND (motor neurone disease) diagnosis was devastating news, and we were at a loss. A family friend suggested Nightingale House.

"Dad loved it, despite his reservations. The staff knew him so well, he was never made to feel a nuisance, and not once in dad's journey was my mum forgotten about.

"He ended his journey at Nightingale House, and the team have been on tap for our family.

"We owe so much to this place, it's a place to cherish."

Kate Wilson (rehabilitaion) at the Nightingale House Hospice hydrotherapy pool.

Andrea's story is at the heart of the hospice, representing the lives that it touches and the huge difference it makes to families.

It began in 1977, when clinical anaesthetist Dr Graham Arthurs, working in Wrexham, identified a need for a new way of caring for terminally ill patients.

For many, the thought of a hospice is one of sadness, and Mayor, Cllr Williams was one of those who thought as much.

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He said: "Previously I lived nearby and I couldn't look at the hospice when I went past, it was a scary place.

"In 2017 I became deputy mayor, and my first official function was at Nightingale House Hospice.

"From then I started volunteering at the hospice, coming to out-patients and wards with my therapy dog Buddy.

"It became a big part of my life, and is one of my designated charities. It's a special place."

Nightingale House Hospice patient Clayton.

Nightingale House offers so much for its patients and their families, including moments of normality and time away from a ward. It has a pool, gym and spa, all kitted out to meet the needs of patients, as well as a beautiful garden space, with more planned.

On the day of the opening, patient Clayton, who has has an inoperable brain tumour, was attending for respite care.

He said: "It's an oasis in the middle of a desert. It's absolutely fantastic, a programme of positive thinking. Don't think of Nightingale House as sad, it's not.

"The consultants do a marvellous job, in an NHS that's creaking all the time."

Music therapy at Nightingale House Hospice

Former staff members at the hospice, Wendy Morton and Clare Hanson, who helped fund the patient lounge in memory of their colleague Sue Roberts, were impressed by the recent changes.

Wendy said: "Wherever you walk it's wonderful, a phenomenal transformation. This is part of Sue's legacy."

Clare added: "It really speaks to the type of people who work here, I wish Sue could see this.

"Everyone is here for the right reasons, Nightingale House is the next best thing to being at home."

Nightingale House Hospice gardens.

Chair of the board of trustees, Eluned Griffiths said: "We wouldn't be here today without the vision of Dr Graham Arthurs. He was prepared to put in the hard work and make sure Nightingale House Hospice was built.

"It opened 29 years ago and we haven't stood still, evolving with the needs of our patients.

"In 2018 we looked at modernising, and a five-year, £5million project started in 2019. It's been a long journey but here we are, a very special place.

"It would never have happened without all the support, and in an economic dark time too."

Nightingale House Hospice gardens.

That vital support included generous donations from the Bradbury Foundation and the Sir Donald and Lady Edna Wilson Trust.

Gareth Kelly, from the Sir Donald and Lady Edna Wilson Trust, said: "Wrexham is an exciting place just now, a real buzz, and just like the football club, the hospice has moved into a new league in palliative care.

"The new wing is going to be so appreciated, and the success is down to the dedicated staff at Nightingale House Hospice."

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Hugh Inman, from the Bradbury Foundation added: "Congratulations to all at Nightingale House and all you've done.

"There's an amazing community spirit in Wrexham, and we invest in people and the community.

"We have a connection with Wrexham and would like to keep it for a long time."

• Nightingale House provides specialist palliative care services, free-of-charge, to patients and their families across a wide area stretching from Wrexham, Flintshire and East Denbighshire to Barmouth and the border towns including Oswestry and Whitchurch.

Anyone who thinks the hospice can help them is invited to get in touch. Visit nightingalehouse.co.uk for details.