Farewell to Rachel House - for now

Families are saying "see you later" to Rachel House this week as the Kinross hospice closes temporarily ahead of a major £17 million transformation that will help support children and families for generations to come.

The final families staying at Rachel House left the hospice before its doors closed on Monday 28 September, marking the end of an era for a place that has provided care, comfort and unforgettable memories for thousands of children and families over the last 30 years.

Just days later, on Thursday 1 October, families will begin to arrive at Mina House, a former care home in nearby Kinglassie, which will become the temporary home of Rachel House services while work takes place on the ambitious refurbishment project.

Among the last families to stay at Rachel House were the family of ten-year-old Thea Scott from West Lothian. Thea has a rare genetic disorder and has been supported by CHAS since she was a baby.

Reflecting on their final visit before the hospice closed, Thea's mum, Lynsey Scott, said: "We are very excited about the upcoming transformation of Rachel House and cannot wait to see the finished result.

"Rachel House has been a very special part of our journey with Thea. When she was just nine months old, we were able to bring her there for a few days. Having spent her entire life in critical care up to that point, and never having been away from a hospital environment, the thought of eventually bringing her home felt daunting.

"The warmth and homeliness of Rachel House, together with the incredible support of the CHAS team, gave us our first glimpse of what our new normal could look like and showed us that it was possible. From that moment on, we never looked back.

"Thea turned 10 this year, and throughout the last decade Rachel House has truly been a home from home for her, and for our family. We will always be grateful for the care, comfort and support it has provided us over the years."

Also checking out of Rachel House this week was the family of Quinns Rutherford from Stirling who said they were excited to see what the refurbished building will look like when it reopens in 2027.

Quinns’ mum Jennifer Rutherford said: “Rachel House has become really important to us over the last three years. Our first visit was shortly after Quinns' six month stay in hospital and it was a much-needed chance to rest and recover from all we had been through. It continues to give us a home from home to spend quality time as a family. We've had so much fun on our visits from parties in the garden, to crafts in the lounge and a lot of splashing in the jacuzzi!

“It has been really special being one of the last families to spend time at Rachel House before it closes for the renovations. The anticipation of the move has been building and it's so lovely to be a part of it. It is very reassuring that we will be met by the same amazing team when we arrive at Mina House for our next visit. In the longer term we are also really excited to see the changes that are being made to Rachel House especially the new swimming pool!”

For families like the Scotts and the Rutherfords, Rachel House has become far more than a hospice since opening in 1996. It has been a place where children have enjoyed short breaks, parents have found support and siblings have made lasting memories during some of the most challenging times of their lives.

While the temporary closure is emotional for many, the transformation will ensure Rachel House continues to meet the evolving needs of children and families well into the future.

The £17 million project will deliver a significantly enhanced hospice environment, including a full roof replacement, a Hudson's Hideaway space, upgrades to the hydrotherapy pool area and enhanced outdoor spaces with improved storage for children's bikes, toys and equipment.

The transformation is a key part of CHAS's £20 million More Than A Hospice Appeal, which aims to ensure no family faces the death of their child alone. As well as rebuilding Rachel House, improvements will also be made to Robin House in Balloch and CHAS services across Scotland will be expanded so more families can access specialist care and support where and when they need it most, whether at home, in hospital or in a hospice.

The first phase of works will focus on enabling and preparatory construction activity before the main rebuild begins.

Meanwhile, care and support will continue uninterrupted from Mina House.

Among the first families to enjoy a stay in Mina House are Calum and Steffi Page from west Fife, their son Cillian and daughter Tilly.

Tilly has a rare neurological condition requiring complex round-the-clock care and the Page family has been supported by CHAS since Tilly was a baby.

They said: “Our four-year-old daughter Tilly was born with a very rare and severe neurological condition and, at the time of diagnosis, she was only the 35th person worldwide to have been formally diagnosed with the DNM1 mutation, which is causing her multiple disabilities and complex, round-the-clock medical care needs.

"CHAS has been an incredible and invaluable support to Tilly and our family as a whole ever since Tilly was a baby. From respite breaks, seasonal events and CHAS at Home support to their siblings outreach programme, we are forever grateful for all that they do for us, as well as all the other families who access their services.

"We are honoured to be one of the first families to stay at Mina House as part of this exciting new chapter for CHAS. We will miss Rachel House but appreciate it had to close to make important improvements to continue supporting families like ours for decades to come. We are excited to return once it reopens."

As one chapter closes and another begins, CHAS says the move from Rachel House to Mina House reflects both the hospice's remarkable legacy and its commitment to future generations of children and families who will need its support.

Rami Okasha, CEO at CHAS said: "For 30 years, Rachel House has been a place of laughter, comfort, care and precious family moments for thousands of children and families across Scotland.

"While there is naturally sadness at closing the doors, there is also enormous excitement about what comes next. This investment represents our commitment to ensuring families continue to receive the highest quality care and support in a hospice that is fit for the future.

"The experiences shared by families like Thea's, Quinns’ and Tilly's demonstrate the vital role Rachel House plays in the lives of children and families across Scotland. We're delighted that support will continue seamlessly from Mina House throughout the refurbishment, and we look forward to welcoming families back to a transformed Rachel House in the years ahead."

Find out about our More Than A Hospice Appeal.