The Cancer Council Queensland Palliative Care Centre in Townsville is one step closer to comforting terminally ill patients after officially giving the keys to Queensland Health.

The handover of keys has enabled Queensland Health to begin the fit out of the centre, so that it can start receiving patients from October.

Director of Palliative Care for the Townsville Health Service District, Dr Will Cairns, accepted the keys from Cancer Council Queensland’s General Manager of Operations and Company Secretary, Rhonda Earel.

Ms Earel said the new centre will provide 20 new, much needed, palliative care beds for the Townsville community.

“This facility will provide terminally ill patients in North Queensland with essential care,” she said.

“Following the handover, Queensland Health will fit-out the building in the lead up to the official opening on October 9.

“Handing the keys to Queensland Health marks a major milestone for the Cancer Council, the Townsville Hospital, and the Townsville community,” Ms Earel said.

Each year in Queensland more than 6600 people are faced with the news they have terminal cancer.

The new $8 million Palliative Care Centre is the largest building project undertaken by Cancer Council Queensland. The centre will be run by Queensland Health and is connected to Townsville Hospital via a walkway.

The Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation kick-started the building project by donating $3.5 million, and inspiring the community to give a further $3.4 million.