IT is the start of a new era for Bolton Hospice, as the charity prepares for life in a new home.

The hospice’s staff and volunteers have moved into Giles House, a building adjacent to the main hospice site on Chorley New Road.

The building was acquired by Bolton Hospice in 2012, as part of the charity’s plans to expand and develop patient services on the original land-locked site.

It will feature four new inpatient bedrooms, en-suite facilities, more space for families and a multi-faith reflection and bereavement support centre.

It also houses the hospice fundraising department, which is tasked with raising about £2.8 million every year to fund the hospice’s services, non-clinical support staff, human resources, voluntary services, finance staff and volunteers.

The ground floor of the building features an exhibition space where items of hospice branded merchandise and gifts are on display and available for purchase.

Dr Leigh Vallance, chief executive of Bolton Hospice, said: “We acquired Giles House so that we could make room for expansion and improvement of our patient services.

“Many people tell us that they have lived in Bolton their entire life but don’t know where the hospice is, so we also hope that Giles House’s prominent frontage on Chorley New Road will improve accessibility to hospice services and help raise awareness of the specialist care and support that is available for the people of Bolton.”

Giles House will be the site of the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service, which will provide advice and support for Bolton people affected by cancer and other members of the public.

This service has been developed by Bolton Hospice, Bolton People Affected by Cancer (Bolton PAC), NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Macmillan Cancer Support.

It will include a drop-in area on the ground floor of the building.

The building is initially open to the public on Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.