A campaign has been launched to build an end-of-life hospice in the grounds of the James Paget University Hospital at Gorleston.

It will cost £3m to build the 10-bed hospice unit at the Louise Hamilton Centre – and ambassador Roberta Lovick, whose daughter Louise died of cancer aged 28, is hoping the people of Great Yarmouth and Waveney will help make the dream come true.

The hospice would be connected to the hospital and the palliative care centre, which opened on the Paget site in March 2013. It will be built and funded through a new charity called the Louise Hamilton Trust, running alongside Palliative Care East which runs the Louise Hamilton Centre (LHC).

In the two years since the £1.5m LHC opened its doors more than 18,000 people with life-limiting or progressive illness have received support, advice, counselling and treatment.

Mrs Lovick said: 'This is something we've wanted from the start. We've listened to people, to patients here at the centre and to families, and this is something we need. It comes too late for some people, but I know how they would have supported this, and how much of a difference it will make.'

At the moment, the region's palliative care doctors work across the Paget – moving from ward to ward and within the community to support people. Detailed plans of the bedded unit are currently being drawn up by architects but will include accommodation for family.

Great Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis said: 'I am delighted to hear that the Louise Hamilton Centre is moving into its second phase. We have long been bereft of proper hospice care in our area and it is something that needs to be addressed.'

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