\n The landmark first spades have been put in the ground as construction starts on the new St Elizabeth Hospice in Gorleston.\n<\/p>\n
\n Members of the hospice team, nurses, project partners and Barnes Construction \u2013 who will be carrying out the build \u2013 came together to mark the milestone on-site.\n<\/p>\n
\n It comes just over a year after planning permission was granted by Great Yarmouth Borough Council to build the hospice on a seven-acre site off Sidegate Road, close to the James Paget University Hospital.\n<\/p>\n
\n The first spades were put in the ground on the construction site off Sidegate Road in Gorleston (Image: Nelson Walker)\n<\/p>\n
\n Judi Newman, chief executive officer at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: \u201cIt feels quite emotional. For so many years it has been people\u2019s dreams and aspirations.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt will be a hub for our community services and make a massive difference to the equity of care in this area.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThis is the start of a really long-term community investment for the area. There are times when you do need that admission to a specialist facility.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt has been such a long-term ambition and to get to this point is something to be really proud of.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Judi Newman (centre), Mark Hart (left) and Charlie Royall (right) marking the official start of construction (Image: Nelson Walker)\n<\/p>\n
\n The new hospice \u2013 which is expected to take two years to complete and open in 2028 \u2013 will have an Inpatient Unit with capacity for up to 16 beds in addition to an Outpatient Unit supporting day care patients and providing therapy services.\n<\/p>\n
\n The site will be a base for hospice staff and volunteers in the area and also contain a community caf\u00e9.\n<\/p>\n
\n An artist’s impression of the new hospice, expected to open in 2028 (Image: LSI Architects)\n<\/p>\n
\n An artist’s impression of the new hospice, expected to open in 2028 (Image: LSI Architects)\n<\/p>\n
\n An artist’s impression of the new hospice, expected to open in 2028 (Image: LSI Architects)\n<\/p>\n
\n Charlie Royall, leader of the Great Yarmouth & Waveney community team, said: \u201cTo see it started there is quite emotional and it is amazing that we can offer this.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cTo have a purpose-built building to get support, counselling, group therapy, an array of services, all under one roof, to offer support to people when they are facing the worst time of their life is an absolutely amazing feat.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Mark Hart, joint managing director at Barnes Construction, said: \u201cIt is the start of the journey and has been 20 years in the making.\n<\/p>\n
\n Construction has officially begun on the new hospice (Image: Nelson Walker)\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt is our job to deliver the dream. It is a significant investment that is going to be busy in the coming years.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cTogether we are going to deliver something that this area and the hospice can be proud of.\u201d\n<\/p>\n