Sidmouth Hospiscare is celebrating an ‘amazing day’ for the Sid Valley after securing new premises to extend its services to include a day centre.

The charity, which offers support to those living with life-limiting illnesses and their carers, has purchased the former Sidford Surgery as its new home.

Dr Gill Ryall, CEO for the charity, said there was a need for a newer larger base after discussing with groups about how to develop services to meet increasing demands.

As part of its future plans, the charity would look to extend the surgery to create space for a day centre to provide respite for carers and enhance patients physical and mental wellbeing through nurse clinic, complementary therapy, counselling and education services.

Dr Ryall said: “There are significant challenges ahead but this building provides us with the potential now to develop our services to meet the increasing needs.

“We are keen to work with other related organisations in the community to use the new building to enhance the support to our patients and carers and to develop a community-wide approach to tackling these challenges.”

The new premises will enable the charity to provide additional support to allow more patients to remain in their own homes, enhance nursing and volunteer services, increase education and support for local care homes.

Dr Barry Lowden, chairman of Sidmouth Hospiscare, said: “I think it is an amazing day for Sidmouth Hospiscare and an amazing day for the Sid Valley because this building enables Sidmouth Hospiscare to develop all sorts of services that will benefit all in the community with life-limiting illness and their families.

“It is with thanks to the nurses, volunteers, staff and supporters over the years that we are in a position that we are able to consider now expanding the services that we can provide to patients and carers, whilst ensuring the sustainability of those services over a number of years.

The independent charity relies solely on donations for local people, which currently costs around £400,000 per year to run and will see its costs increase as it hopes to employ more nurses in the future.

Dr Lowden added: “We believe, however, that the charity is in a strong position to enable this to happen and look forward to working with others in the community to develop the building and services to their full potential”.