HOSPICE facilities will be able to expand even further thanks to its new-found independence from the NHS.

Trustees at the East Lancashire Hospice said independence from the primary care trust would bring it into line with 98 per cent of the UK's adult hospices, and allow much more efficient fundraising and service expansion.

Dr Merton Siegelman, who led the project to build the Park Lee Road hospice in 1984, was guest of honour as patients, families and staff gathered to celebrate the changeover, releasing 24 balloons - one for each of the years it has been open.

Previously, the hospice had been run in conjunction with community health services, making it just one of a huge number of healthcare centres organised by the local NHS.

But the new system will mean a separate board of trustees for the hospice who will be able to apply for their own funding, without having to cut through NHS red tape.

The NHS will still provide a chunk of the hospice's funding, and the service will remain free to all users. Fundraising to contribute to the £2 million annual running costs will still be essential.

Hospice chairman Audrey Platt said: "We have come an awful long way in 24 years and this will allow us to go even further.

"None of the progress we have made could have been achieved without our staff, volunteers, and trustees who have had the vision to make this an excellent hospice."

The 10-bed in-patient unit and community rehabilitation unit include a full range of complementary therapies including reiki, hydrotherapy ad even hypnosis.

Trustee Harry Grayson said independence would allow further development of both conventional and complementary palliative care, as well as extras which make the hospice even more like home.

He said: "People think of hospices as sad places but that couldn't be further from the truth here. We want to make sure we always provide a relaxed, happy and therapeutic place for people to live out the rest of their lives."

To find out more about fundraising for the hospice, contact the team there on 01254 342810.