A $3.6million extension of Waipuna Hospice allowing for an increasing number of patients is expected to be completed next month.

The Te Puna-based centre's new Day Services Wing is part of a wider hospice construction project, now entering the 'disruptive” phase, says Waipuna Hospice chief executive Richard Thurlow.

Waipuna Hospice's new $3.6 million Day Services Wing. Photo: Supplied.

The new wing, announced late last year, connects to the existing building and will contain clinic and medical procedure rooms, lounge and family areas, as well as providing more space for counselling, bereavement support groups, massage therapy and education.

It will also include an expanded training room accommodating up to 100 people to provide specialist palliative care education to general practitioners, practice nurses and aged residential care staff.

Richard says on top of the new wing fit out, the existing hospice building is getting a 'much needed facelift” with changes to its existing building structure.

Initial forecasts for the entire project completion this month have been shifted to early next year due to delays in council resource consent and construction starting at Christmas, says Richard.

'The whole huge project, with ground work and road levels changing as well, we are aiming to finish by the end of February, start of March.

'There has been a bit of disruption and decanting staff around but it's still on target.”

The reception area is being changed and remodelled to allow the hospice nursing team to be more accessible and closer to the entrance.

All of the building's eight-year-old carpet is also being replaced.

Richard admits it is quite a facelift but the centre is 'really due for a birthday”.

He says construction is getting to the disruptive point now and asks patients to bear with staff.

'Anyone coming in or using the services we ask them to bear with us as we try to minimise the disruptions as much as possible.”

The Te Puna-based hospice has grown extensively since opening more than 20 years ago, with patient numbers increasing more than 100 per cent in the last four years.

Staff expect to care for 750 – 800 patients this year, with an average 46 new referrals each month.

Funding for the $3.6m extension came from the Waipuna Hospice Foundation and TECT – both donating $1.8m.