It has taken almost eight years but work has finally begun on a new, multi-million pound hospice wing aiming to provide specialist, wellbeing treatments and therapy.

The ellenor hospice in Coldharbour Road, Gravesend, invited its board of trustees, families, patients and the newly appointed mayor of Gravesham, Cllr Gurdip Ram Bungar, to a breaking-the-ground ceremony to mark work starting on their new centre.

Lord-Lieutenant of Kent Lady Colgrain was given the honour of striking the shovel into the ground to mark the start of the work, using the same shovel which began the construction of the hospice when it was first built in the early 1990s.

Plans for the new wing include a children’s play area which would allow for music and play therapy, nursing clinics where patients would be able to be seen by a doctor, a changing area, and counseling rooms.

A gym will also be installed with two-multipurpose rooms which can be used to provide a variety of services for both patients and employees. There will also be a new kitchen area and the garden is also set to be re-landscaped to make it both more therapeutic and accessible.

The above floor will contain new office spaces for employees.

The whole project is estimated to cost the charity more than £5 million with the work being carried out by Barnes Construction.

Andrew Lowden, operational welbeing lead at ellenor said: “It’s been a fantastic opportunity for people, not only to see the building work and progress we’re making, but also for people to understand what it means.

“When you think the word hospice everyone has an idea in their head. The wellbeing centre is a chance for us to show hospice care is far more than just end of life care. We get involved way earlier in people’s lives.

“You come to ellenor to continue living and we will help you do that.”

Lady Colgrain said: “As we all know, hospices provide valuable life-enhancing care for people through to the end of their lives, however long that would be.

“Today is the realisation of a vision that begun some eight years ago and on this day is such a cause for celebration.

“I wish to congratulate everyone for their role they played. It owuld not be possible without donors and supporters and the local community; all should feel a sense of pride.”

Currently around 3,500 patients are being treated at ellenor with around 14 being in-bed patients.

The hospice is a charity and a specialist palliative care provider for adults and children in Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley, and for children across the London Borough of Bexley.

The ellenor foundation was founded in 1985 and in 1992 the hospice itself opened its doors.

It is hoped that the work will be completed by February 2024.