A major milestone has been reached in the construction of a hospice’s multi-million-pound wellbeing wing.

The last tile has been placed on the roof of the new centre at the ellenor Hospice, in Coldharbour Road, Northfleet.

Speaking at the ceremonial topping out ceremony, operational lead for wellbeing at ellenor Andrew Lowden said: “It is quite an auspicious occasion. It has been a long time coming.

“This has been a project that was started several years ago, however, the building works themselves have been in place for around 18 months.

“The tile on the roof that has been placed today is the final tile that makes the building watertight so now the internal works can be finished.

“We are really excited. This new wellbeing centre will allow us to do more and different groups, and those that will meet the needs of our community so much better.

“My team is chomping at the bit to get back on site.”

Charity chief executive Michelle Kabia added: “It is a real milestone. It is a great time for us and a real celebration for the staff.

“This topping out ceremony is our way of saying thank you and celebrating the future of care at ellenor.”

Work, led by Barnes Construction, started in May last year and it is hoped to be complete by November.

It is set to cost more than £5 million — £2 million of which was given by the Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust which donated the land the hospice was built on 30 years ago.

Nicholas Fisher, who is chairman of trustees at the non-profit organisation, said in 2019 they decided to grant ellenor the large sum as they’d heard it was looking to expand its services.

He added: “We wanted to put something back and we were determined that we would give a substantial donation to kickstart the project in the hope that other donors would come in.

“We also donated the rest of the land’s freehold to the hospice so it owns absolutely everything on which it sits.

“It is wonderful and we are absolutely thrilled to be doing that.

“It is extraordinary and everyone you talk to in this part of Kent knows ellenor extremely well, so we are delighted to be part of the story.”

The new wellbeing wing will help ellenor continue to provide care and support for patients, families, staff and volunteers.

It will feature new counselling rooms, upgraded play therapy rooms for children, and a spacious multipurpose area for therapeutic activities.

It will also serve as an educational hub for health and social care professionals offering specialised training in end-of-life care.

Michelle explained that, once complete, the new centre will allow patients to visit and work with ellenor earlier in their treatments, before it becomes palliative care.

She said: “For me, it is about destigmatising death, dying and loss and about people knowing we are going to help and know what that help is.

“The building will help us to support more people and let them know what we do so it is less nerve-wracking when they need us.”

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

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