There is good reason to celebrate in Marlborough today after it was announced a joint fundraising appeal between Prospect Hospice and the Gazette to build an outpatient centre at Savernake Hospital has smashed its £75,000 target.

The appeal launched at the beginning of October after the charity, in partnership with the Great Western Hospital Foundation Trust, secured £125,000 for the project from a charitable trust.

The hospice hoped to raise the additional funds needed in six months but in just over three months almost £95,000 has been raised.

Prospect chief executive Angela Jordan said: “Reaching this target is a magnificent achievement by the people of Marlborough and the surrounding villages, and our grateful thanks go out to everyone who has shared our vision. It could not have happened without you.

“When we open the doors of the outpatient centre we will be offering many of its services for patients and families closer to their homes than ever before.

“We are confident that people will welcome our arrival at their much-loved hospital, and support our presence there in the years ahead.”

Susie Fisher, whose partner Mike Bracey spent his last days at Prospect Hospice in Wroughton, added: “I’m so excited, it’s absolutely wonderful.

“I made a donation myself and I have friends that have organised events so it’s all been lovely.

“It seems every time there is something to do with Prospect Hospice the whole community gets behind it.”

Shortly after the appeal was announced, the Friends of Savernake Hospital promised to match funds raised by the community, up to £20,000.

Chairman Janet Louth said: “It’s wonderful that the money has been raised six weeks early and we are delighted that we will be able to hand over the second half of our donation ahead of schedule.

“From people who donated instead of sending out Christmas cards, to places like Godots and Moran’s which raised thousands and the school children who have got involved with fundraising, I’m so pleased that everyone in the community has got behind the campaign and I hope the fundraising will continue to help support running costs.”

The hospice plans to start restoration work on the eight-room suite by the start of April and when the centre opens in July, nurses and clinical staff will offer end of life care including day therapy, symptom and pain management, family and carer support and bereavement services.

Dr Guy Rooney, medical director at the Great Western Hospital Foundation Trust, said: "We are delighted to be working with Prospect Hospice to bring end-of-life care closer to home for patients and families in and around Marlborough.

“The service will make a massive difference to local people and is just one of the ways we are making care more accessible to people across Wiltshire.”

A spokesperson for Marlborough Medical Practice added: “The GPs at Marlborough Medical Practice welcome the opening of the outpatient centre at Savernake.

“We already work very closely with Prospect Hospice and are pleased that soon there will be a more local service for the people of Marlborough, which will also see Savernake Hospital being used to support care in our local area.”

It is anticipated that it will cost £60,000 a year to run the unit and the hospice has provisions in place to provide this funding – but continued donations from members of the public will be welcomed.

Richard Hammond, Prospect Hospice’s director of income generation, said: “While it is wonderful that we have the money to open the centre, and some funds towards ongoing running costs, we will need the support of the people who have raised this magnificent sum to sustain it.

“Our focus now turns to raising the funds to support the ongoing costs of providing our care in the area.”