Ty Geraint Palliative Care Resource Centre, at Bronglais Hospital, will enhance the care and quality of life for patients, their carers and their families. It replaces the portable building previously used by the palliative care team.

The centre is named after Lord Geraint, the late MP for Ceredigion, who was a passionate supporter of Bronglais Hospital.

"The facilities and care at Ty Geraint are for all patients suffering with incurable conditions," Dr Gibbons said. "We often need to be reminded that palliative care is not just required for those patients suffering with cancer, but has an increasing role in the care of those with other incurable diseases, such as chronic deteriorating conditions and non-malignant conditions.

"These excellent new facilities will greatly enhance the care and quality of life not only for those patients suffering with terminal conditions, but also their carers.

Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust received more than £303,000 from the Big Lottery Fund for the purpose-built centre and to support Y Filltir Sgwar - Home Ground - an integrated rural cancer project offering psychological and complementary therapy services in Ceredigion. Local Rotary Clubs also provided £40,000 to buy specialist equipment.

The centre boasts the latest telemedicine facilities, which allows patients and staff to communicate face-to-face with other people at different sites, and will mainly be used to link the centre to the community hospitals in Cardigan and Tregaron. The technology also offers the opportunity to evaluate clinical information instantly. The building also has a patients’ library, therapy rooms, a counselling room and offices for staff.

Dr Gibbons added: "Palliative care focuses primarily on managing the consequences of a disease rather than its cause or specific cure. The approaches are therefore holistic, pragmatic and multi-disciplinary as demonstrated at the centre. In addition to doctors and nurses supporting patients, carers and their families, there are a number of other professionals who offer a range of therapies to promote relaxation, reduce stress and anxiety as well as help to cope with depression that can be linked to serious illness.

"Palliative care is becoming ever more important and will affect many of us at some stage in our lives, directly or indirectly. Last year the Assembly Government published Designed for Life, which highlights our ambition to create world class health service by 2015. Palliative care is an integral part of our health care system and the services available at Ty Geraint should provide an improved quality of life for local people, meeting the aspirations of Designed for Life."