IN a special appearance yesterday in Glasgow, Laura Fraser, the star of hit television series Breaking Bad, encouraged people to put their heart into the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice.

The Hollywood actress, who grew up in Glasgow, is the newest patron of the hospice and put the first spade in the ground at the site of the 21st-century state-of-the-art facility to be built at Bellahouston Park.

She also helped to launch the Foundation Appeal, the push to raise the remaining £333,000 of the £1m needed to lay the groundwork.

"Message hearts have already begun pouring in from all over the city. They will be placed in a large chest and sunk into the foundations under the front door of the new hospice," she said.

"These messages are incredibly touching and you can clearly see from the sentiments expressed, just how much the hospice means to the people of Glasgow."

Friends, volunteers, dignitaries and supporters of the Carlton Place hospice gathered at the south side park where the new building will go up, due to open its doors in 2018.

Lord Provost Sadie Docherty said more than 36,000 people had been treated at the hospice since it opened 30 years ago.

"This is an emotional day for many of us," she added. "We are witnessing the dawn of a new era for the care of the terminally ill."

Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, praised the extraordinary effort of the fundraising carried out to build the facility. In total it will take £21m to build the hospice on a hilltop site in the park, with £6.5m still to raise.

"The dedicated hospice staff play such an important role, and I would also to recognise the work of the many volunteers, fundraisers and supporters throughout the hospice movement," he said.

"This new facility will bring world-class hospice care to the people of Glasgow, offering privacy and compassionate care to the people who need it."

This will be the first hospice in the UK Kingdom to implement the Sengetun model of care. A Scandinavian model that puts patients and family at the centre of its focus alongside optimal operational efficiency.

It will also provide hotel style comfort with 16 private en-suite bedrooms with private terraces, soft seated areas and domestic style, open plan kitchens. The accommodation will allow patients and families the opportunity to eat together. The aim is to provide more space, independence and privacy to allow greater opportunity for normal family activity.

The new hospice's commitment to the palliative care of young people aged 15 plus will also include specialised accommodation to meet their particular needs. This will include family bedrooms, family lounges, social areas, complementary therapy rooms, spa bathrooms, a hydrotherapy pool, sanctuary, sensory room, young people's lounge and training rooms.

Donate online at www.ppwh.org.uk/donate