Lakelands Day Care Hospice was built in 2000 with a lift shaft but there was not enough cash to put in a lift at the time.

Now the two-storey Corby facility, which cares for people with life limiting illnesses, has begun a campaign to provide full access for patients to its top floor.

Fundraising and marketing manager Jodie Jelley said: "So much money was needed to build the hospice and they ran out of funds to put the lift in.

"The hospice is growing. We're also looking to expand to care for people with different illnesses.

"Many patients and members of the heart failure support groups are unable to access the upper floor facilities of the hospice as their conditions often limit them and they struggle to ascend stairs.

"There's so much room that is going to waste upstairs and we want our patients to be able to access all areas. That's why we've launched the £40,000 appeal."

Lakelands, in Butland Road, cares for people with cancer-related illnesses and in 2007 it extended its palliative care services to include advanced heart failure.

These patients follow a 16-week programme offering guidance and support to help them and their carers manage symptoms more effectively.

Forty unnecessary hospital admissions were avoided in the first year of the project.

After completing the programme, people are invited to attend a self-support group.

But the hospice is unable to accommodate the growing numbers of patients on the ground floor and needs to expand.

It is thought about 25 per cent of all Lakelands' patients are not able to climb the stairs.

To donate to the Lift our Hopes Hospice Appeal, send a donation to Lakelands Hospice, Butland Road, Oakley Vale, Corby, NN18 8LX or visit www.lakelandshospice.org.uk.

Local groups which would like to get directly involved with fundraising can call 01536 747755.