SOME things are too precious to leave behind entirely.

As the doors to the new Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice officially open today, thoughts of its much-loved original home on the banks of the Clyde are never far away.

In fact, the Georgian front door of the beautiful, state of the art building in Bellahouston Park is itself a link to Carlton Place, as chief executive Rhona Baillie explains.

“We brought the old door with us,” she smiles. “We believe more than 40, 000 people have walked through that door over the years, so we decided to take it - and a little piece of our history - with us.”

Carlton Place is celebrated too in a wonderful work of art, created by Glasgow illustrator Adrian McMurchie, which takes pride of place in the new reception hall.

“The artwork, the lovely sofas, the fireplace – it just says ‘home’,” says Rhona, who has been the driving force behind the campaign to build a new hospice for more than six years.

Glasgow Times:
Charles and Diana leave the hospice after a tour of the Carlton Place building in 1990

“People have said they find it immediately relaxing when they walk in here. And the word people are using the most, the word which sums up how we are all feeling at the moment is ‘overwhelmed’.”

There are other words too, which sum up the mood of staff as they prepare to start moving patients in next week.

“We are ecstatic to finally be here, as a team we are overjoyed, and very emotional,” says Rhona.

“Many families are sad to be leaving Carlton Place, because it is the place where they lost their loved ones. But it is lovely to have a sense of our history still with us. Now we are here the building has exceeded all of our expectations and we have had already had great feedback.”

The hospice has been designed to be non-clinical, with medical equipment hidden away. Bedrooms surround the central communal area, where people can gather to read, watch television and listen to music. Instead of traditional nursing stations there are laptops in each room and an external courtyard, full of water, light and greenery, provides a calming space. Fireplaces with real fires, artworks and curtains fill the rooms and social areas.

In short, it looks a lot like home.

Glasgow Times:
Rhona Baillie, chief executive of The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice

It was a conversation with a young cancer patient many years ago which planted the seed of an idea for a new hospice in Rhona’s mind.

“He was visiting our day care space and it was full of older people at the time, and he told me – this just isn’t for me,” she explains. “It made me wonder – what can we do for young people? How can we improve the experience?”

The new hospice will cater for younger people for the first time. It now has 13 young patients, who have been consulted about the new building throughout the process.

“They have given us really great feedback,” says Rhona. “They have told us we have got it right and they love the space, so we are really delighted about that.”

The appeal, backed by the Evening Times, attracted support from people all over the globe.

Heather Manson, director of fundraising, said: “We’re really lucky that many people from Glasgow now living in countries all over the world still keep the hospice close to their hearts.

Glasgow Times:
Actress Laura Fraser backed the Raise the Roof campaign

“Many ex-pats do tremendous work in organising events to raise funds to help us and we’re so appreciative of the support they continue to provide.

“Our New York and London fundraising groups have raised more than half a million pounds in support of the Brick by Brick Appeal.

“In New York, a family whose father was looked after by the hospice, organised a marathon in Central Park, and Carol Smillie and DJ Trevor Nelson hosted the Wee Glasgow Night in the Big Apple to raise funds too..Our London fundraising group, chaired by Brian Duffy of Aurum Holdings, also held a Wee Glasgow Night in Belgravia, with entertainment from Lulu and the Bay City Rollers – and a glitzy reception in Oxford Street’s Watches of Switzerland!”

While the appeal is over, Rhona is quick to point out the challenges of keeping the hospice running remain.

“Our message is #letskeeponcaring,” she says. “We can build on and enhance the care we are giving, help people of all ages and conditions, in ways we couldn’t do before because the environment just wasn’t right.

“We want to encourage people now to consider becoming regular givers, whether it’s £5 a month or £10 a month, or more – whatever they can afford.

“Let’s keep on caring, so we can keep the doors open.”