Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis today announced a £1millon grant to help build the world’s first purpose-built institute for research into end of life care.

The Cicely Saunders Institute for Palliative Care will enable leading researchers to work alongside each other in a purpose built building for and deliver palliative care solutions to patients, as well as providing education, patient information and support.

This follows on from the recently launched End of Life Care Strategy, backed with £286million of Government funding. The grant is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to provide high quality care for all adults approaching the end of their life.

Cicely Saunders International is working in partnership with King’s College London to build the Institute. The new building will bring together leading academics, healthcare professionals, community organisations, patients and carers.

The Department of Health grant will help meet the costs of constructing and fitting the Institute with teaching space for researchers and students as well as public spaces for patients and healthcare professionals.

Read the press release on the Department of Health website