END of life care training for hospice nurses - and a centre in which it can take place - are being boosted by funding from a scholarship set up in memory of a Gwent man.

The Trevor Gray Scholarship Fund will help with educational courses in conjunction with St David’s Hospice Care and will also assist the charity, which provides services across much of Gwent, in establishing its new education centre in Cwmbran.

That in turn will be called the Trevor Gray Education Centre, after Trevor Gray JP, MBE, who died aged 66 in 1985. He was the company secretary of the Gwent Hospitals Contributory Fund for 36 years, and a lay board member for Wales for the General Medical Council.

The scholarship fund will also help strengthen links between Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, St David’s Hospice Care and not-for-profit health plan provider Plutus Health, formerly Gwent Hospitals Contributory Fund.

The centre, at Withey Court, Ty Coch Way, Cwmbran, will be used for training, meetings, external courses and seminars.

“We’re so pleased that the money raised in the memory of Trevor Gray has found a positive use once again," said Andy Wilkins, chief executive of Plutus Health.

"Alongside helping to establish the new facility in Cwmbran, the money will also assist with training nurses in palliative care, something our business has always aimed to support wherever possible.

“St David’s works tirelessly to provide care for seriously ill people across Newport, so its hugely rewarding to see fundraising monies, which are managed through Plutus Health, put to such great use.”

Emma Saysell, chief executive of St David’s Hospice Care, said the education centre is a facility it has needed for some time.

"This is a significant addition to the various developments we have planned," she said.

"We are thrilled with the outcome and support of the Trevor Gray Scholarship.”

St David’s Hospice Care is funding the lease costs for the new centre, which has room to accommodate up to 50 people, while the scholarship fund has paid for refurbishment, IT and furniture.

The centre will be used to train a variety of hospice nurses, district nurses, GPs and other members of the multi-disciplinary teams that provide end of life care.

Run by St David’s Hospice Care, it will also be available for use by external agencies to run external courses and training sessions, in particular for care home staff.