Michelle Collins breaks the ground of our new £10 million Inpatient Unit rebuild

Reaching a milestone in the hospice’s enormous £10million Inpatient Unit rebuild project, a special ceremony was held where the first spade went into the soil and the groundwork for the new unit was laid. The project is the most ambitious venture that the charity has undertaken since the Inpatient Unit was first built more than 30 years ago.

The event was an opportunity to look back, with appreciation, at the hospice’s 40 year history and was attended by many supporters and friends – including one of the hospice’s founders, Harriet Copperman. Other invited guests included honorary presidents Penny Gluckstein and Geoffrey Hill, ambassador Michelle Collins and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Simon Morris MBE. 
 

As she took hold of the specially inscribed spade, Michelle Collins, who was on her way to film scenes in Eastenders, jokingly remarked that the last time she saw a shovel someone was hitting her over the head with one! 

Also in attendance was Brenda Knoble and Warren Roiter from the Sandringham Charitable Foundation as well as The Worshipful Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet, Councillor Zahra Beg. 

Declan Carroll, Chief Executive of North London Hospice said at the event:

"Today begins a new chapter in the North London Hospice story. To every donor and supporter who has helped us reach this point: thank you, from all of us. Your generosity is helping us create a building that will care for local people for many years to come and stand as a beacon of hospice care across North London."
 

Why rebuild?

When it became apparent that the old building was no longer fit for purpose, and after extensive consultation and research, including exploring several different options, hospice leaders concluded that a complete redevelopment of the Inpatient Unit would be the best solution for the hospice to meet future needs of patients.

The new unit will help North London Hospice continue to meet the changing needs of patients and families across Barnet, Enfield and Haringey and will provide a modern and comfortable setting in which the hospice can deliver its specialist care and support for decades to come.

Following a competitive tendering process, Neilcott Construction Ltd was appointed to deliver the redevelopment, which is expected to cost around £10 million. Building work is now under way.

Funding
The project has been funded through a mixture of major donors, trusts and private sponsors as well as some government funding but the hospice must still raise a further £1.7 million. A public appeal launching this autumn will invite the community to help build the new unit, continuing the local support that established the hospice more than 40 years ago.

Temporary facilities

The hospice will be continuing to provide both inpatient as well as community services during this time. A temporary Inpatient Unit has been operating from the Jade Ward at Edgware Community Hospital from 1 July 2026. It is anticipated that the newly rebuilt Inpatient Unit will open in the autumn of 2027.