Barristers Help Lay Foundations for New Hospice

The Northern Ireland Hospice Rebuild Project reached a major milestone recently with a ceremonial bricklaying taking place at the site of the new adult hospice. Guests including the Lord Mayor of Belfast were on site to mark the occasion. As the Bar Charity of the Year, representatives including Chairman Gerald McAlinden QC, Charity Committee Chairman Thomas Fitzpatrick BL and Charity Committee member Ashleigh Jones BL attended to lay a keystone on behalf of members of the Bar.

The Bar of Northern Ireland is delighted to offer our support to the Northern Ireland Hospice. Following years of planning, research and consultation, construction, work is now well underway to build a new Adult Hospice facility at Somerton House in Belfast that will meet the end of life care needs of the next generation and continue a legacy of Hospice care in Northern Ireland.

The state-of-the-art facility has been designed to care for people with complex care needs and will provide 18 modern single en-suite rooms, peaceful gardens, a children and relatives area, a sanctuary and chaplain’s room and space where patients and families can relax together. Most importantly, it will provide access to the best professional care needed at this difficult time.

As a centre of excellence, the new hospice will enable the extension of care beyond cancer and reach out to more people in need in the future. It will be the first dementia friendly hospice in the UK and will enable care for people with respiratory and other non-malignant illnesses.

Members have been supporting a range of fundraising events throughout the year including the Bar Charity Ball.