A LION was so impressed after a visit to St David’s Hospice Care that he roared his approval for a move to sponsor a room in the building.

Chepstow and Caldicot Lions President John Robinson said: “I was visiting a friend who was a patient in St David’s Hospice in Malpas, Newport and was totally impressed. The facilities, the care provided and the environment in which the hospice is, are all absolutely first rate.”

Mr Robinson was talking as he joined fellow Chepstow and Caldicot Lions and supporters on a tour of the new £5m hospice by chief executive Emma Saysell.

Chepstow and Caldicot Lions handed over a cheque for £10,000 as their sponsorship of the Chepstow room at the hospice.

Mr Robinson said: “The care provided and everything associated with the new hospice is very humbling. Other Chepstow and Caldicot Lions visited the new inpatient hospice and we soon decided we wanted to support St David’s Hospice Care by sponsoring a room.

“We’re very pleased to have been able to secure the Chepstow room and that we’re listed as its sponsor on a wall in the entrance to the hospice.”

Emma Saysell, Chief Executive of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “I was delighted to be able to give Chepstow and Caldicot Lions a guided tour of our wonderful new inpatient hospice so they could see and officially open the room that they have sponsored. We really can’t thank the Chepstow and Caldicot Lions enough for this marvellous support."

Mrs Saysall said rooms at the hospice are still available to be for sponsored.

“Our care depends on receiving ongoing support from our local community which is why we are so very grateful to organisations businesses such as Chepstow and Caldicot Lions for their tremendous backing. We are now hoping that others will follow Chepstow and Caldicot Lions’ and sign up to sponsor a room at the new in patient facility.”

St David’s Hospice Care cares for more than 3,000 patients and their families every year free of charge. Staff operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year caring for patients with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses such as end-stage heart failure and motor neurone disease. 

St David’s Hospice Care serves a population of over 600,000 people from Newport, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Monmouthshire as well as Mid and South Powys. 

The new in patient centre, which is linked to the current day hospice by a corridor, will open in late spring this year after being fitted out after a 60 week construction programme. The new in patient unit replaces the existing 10-bedded unit at St Anne’s, Malpas, Newport.

Each room in the new building leads onto a terraced area overlooking a garden to be used by patients and visitors. The new facility also benefits from a social hub, a multi faith room and community café all served by a 50 space car park.