BOSSES at the North-East's first baby hospice are hoping it will open within a fortnight.
Work on Zoe's Place Hospice for Special Babies, in Normanby, Teesside, is close to completion.
Final checks to ensure that the building conforms to national care standards are taking place.
General manager Mark Guidery said: "Fingers crossed we should be in a position to open on weekends shortly."
The opening of the building will be phased, with facilities first being available on weekends, then for certain periods during the week before eventually operating 24 hours a day.
About 20 families are on a waiting list for the hospice, in the former Crossbeck House convent.
The project has already attracted £600,000 of National Lottery funding and is expected to cost about £400,000 a year to run.
The hospice is only the second of its kind in the country - the other is the Zoe's Place Hospice in Liverpool.
Mr Guidery said: "We're nearly done, there are just a few small jobs which need doing. We think we've done really well to get this far in the space of 18 months."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article