Community choir signing at the public opening of the Louise Hamilton Centre at the James Paget University Hospital. Picture: James Bass

The Louise Hamilton Centre for palliative care opened to the public for the first time today.

The opening of the £1.5 million centre in the grounds of the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, near Great Yarmouth, was celebrated with a rousing performance from Suffolk Family Carers’ HeartSong, a community choir made up of carers and patients with lung problems.

People throughout Great Yarmouth and Waveney have backed the Palliative Care East’s appeal to open a centre since it launched in 2007.

Now it is here, the centre will act as a hub for specialist services to support people with life-limiting illnesses such as cancer and heart failure.

Health professionals, support groups and trained volunteers are on hand inside to help people whether they need practical advice, complementary therapies, or support as they come to terms with an illness where there is no cure.

The Louise Hamilton Centre is open from 9.30am to 7.30pm on week days and 10.30am to 3.30pm at weekends.

Visit www.palliativecareeast.blogspot.co.uk or call in for more information.