A Hospice is celebrating today (mon) after being awarded an extra £345,000.

The money will be used by the Martlets Hospice in Hove to improve its entrance, day centre and nurses station area to give older patients more shelter and privacy.

This will include creating more private areas where people can go if they need to talk to someone in confidence.

The money is the hospice's share of £40 million being distributed to hospices across England to improve the physical environment of adult hospices as part of the Department of Health's Dignity in Care for Older People programme.

Hospice fund-raising manager Robert Griffiths said: "We are delighted that our bid for £345,000 was accepted and we believe the project will make a real difference.

"The extra money also means we can move ahead and start the work without having to dip into the funds we have or our reserves."

The hospice is not part of the NHS so needs to raise £3 million a year from the community to keep on providing services to patients from Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas.

Health services minister Rosie Winterton said: "When you are ill your surroundings are so important to your general well-being.

"Every patient has the right to be cared for in the best facilities possible. This investment in improving the services and care in hospices will directly benefit these very ill patients and as a result will have a positive effect on their families and friends at what is a very stressful time for everybody."

Care services minister Ivan Lewis said: "This Government is committed to improving the end of life care services very ill people receive.

"This extra funding for hospices will allow them to make real physical improvements to their buildings such as refurbishing day rooms and bedrooms, and will improve hospice grounds so patients can spend time outdoors."