HOSPICES in the area have a sparkling new training facility for staff and volunteers thanks to donations from the public.

The McGrath Centre is a joint project between the Lions Hospice, Coldharbour Road, Gravesend, and The Ellenor Foundation, East Hill, Dartford.

The centre was officially opened on Friday.

Both hospices raised the cash needed to create the new facility, based at the Lions Hospice, and to pay for teaching equipment.

The centre is the first formal education area for the hospices.

Training used to be carried out in meeting rooms at the Ellenor.

The new suite is described as a better environment for learning.

It will be free from the interruptions and distractions of training within the hospice.

The McGrath suite took four months to be installed.

The Ellenor Foundation, which provides hospice-at-home care for adults and children, raised the cash to pay for the temporary building used for the centre.

The Lions Hospice, which offers in-patient and day care, paid for the equipment, including computers with internet access, a library, audio-visual projectors and computers.

Donations were made directly by families who lost a loved one cared for by hospice staff.

The centre is named after Jean McGrath, a nurse who worked at the Lions Hospice for several years and also received treatment there.

Training courses will also be available for outside organisations.

A Lions Hospice spokesman says this will help build a relationship between the public and the hospice.

She said: "It will provide a bit more of a community service."

Head of care Tricia Wilcocks said: "We were delighted with the opening.

"Jean McGrath worked as a staff nurse and undertook the care of the dying course while receiving treatment.

"She was very keen on education so naming the centre after her was a logical step."