A DREAM to provide more hospice care and support in the Holsworthy area became a reality with the opening of the Long House Centre last week.

After more than two years of planning, fundraising and building, North Devon Hospice welcomed members of the community, hospice volunteers, trustees and patients to see the completed Long House at an opening event last Thursday.

The Long House neighbours Holsworthy Medical Centre and community hospital at Dobles Lane.

The centre offers people with life-limiting illnesses and their families a place of refuge where they can access support, advice, palliative and personal care.

It reflects some of the facilities offered at the hospice’s Deer Park centre in Barnstaple.

The Long House features a multi-purpose area ‘The Bradbury Room’ where carers, bereavement and patient groups can meet; a living space; two counselling rooms; a complementary therapy room and a hair care suite where patients can ‘look good, feel great’ by getting their hair and make-up done by the hospice’s specialist team.

Anne Reading from Holsworthy receives care and support from the hospice. She officially cut the ribbon.

She said: “Words cannot express what I had to face three years ago. I hope to show others in a similar position to come and spread the word. Without the carers and hospice, I wouldn’t be here today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Chief executive of North Devon Hospice Stephen Roberts said: “When I walked through the doors for the first time, my expectations were blown to pieces — it was a field, but now look at it!

“We wanted an environment that oozes tranquility; safety and we have done that. The initial focus was to plug the gap in care and now we can focus on delivering it.

“For many years we were unable to reach out to Holsworthy, where we indentified the biggest gap in care, but now we are able to.”

Mr Roberts praised members of the community, who helped raise more than £75,000 towards the Long House and thanked everyone who donated.

He added: “We hope it will become an asset in the community. So many people have had a hand in this and worked tirelessly in making it happen and they have played a massive role — we realise it belongs to the community.

“It’s a real milestone in the community, in Holsworthy and more importantly it is a real milestone for providing care in the community.”

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week’s edition of the Post.