Andrew Mitchell MP has toured the new St Giles Hospice facility in Sutton Coldfield and met with St Giles Chief Executive Peter Holliday and Capital Appeal Director Laura Pennycuick.

Andrew Mitchell has invited HRH Princess Alexandra (with whom he works on the Alexandra Rose Day charity) following discussions with St Giles. Her Royal Highness has agreed to perform the official opening on May 6th in the presence of patients using the Sutton facility and other invited guests.

St Giles Hospice is a registered charity offering high-quality medical and nursing care for local people with cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as providing support for their families and carers. Care is offered at the hospice's facilities in Sutton Coldfield and Whittington between Lichfield and Tamworth, or in patients' own homes across the region.

St Giles spends over £5million every year providing its specialist services. With just a third of this funded by the Government, the registered charity relies heavily on donations and fundraising.

The new £1.5m hospice facility in Sutton Coldfield, affectionately known as “Barn Farm” after the farmhouse previously standing on the site is the result of a highly successful partnership between St Giles Hospice and Sutton Coldfield Municipal Charities (SCMC), with the fitting out funded by the Muriel Saveker Trust. The closing balance of funds from the Royal Sutton Fun Run (1982-2002) was also used in support of one of the clinic rooms.

The centre will provide group therapy programmes, private rooms for outpatient consultation and treatment, an area for assisted bathing, a base for those visiting local patients and an education facility.

The picture shows Andrew Mitchell MP with St Giles Hospice Capital Appeal Director Laura Pennycuick and Chief Executive Peter Holliday.

St Giles Hospice Group Chief Executive, Peter Holliday, commented, “The creation of this local hospice facility is already bringing benefits to Sutton Coldfield residents and the building will be fully up and running by the time of our Royal visit.

“We are particularly delighted that Her Royal Highness will be performing the opening ceremony as Princess Alexandra opened the original hospice in Whittington 25 years ago. We are most grateful to Sutton’s MP, Andrew Mitchell, who has arranged this prestigious visit.”

Andrew Mitchell MP said, “The new St Giles Hospice facility in Sutton Coldfield broadens the essential care available to local people suffering with cancer and other serious illnesses whilst helping to ease the strain on their families during a very stressful period.”