THE new man at Kemp Hospice has dedicated himself to fighting for its future.

Michael Rowan came from an academic position at a Finnish university to fill the newly created post of hospice manager at the beginning of May.

He arrives at a momentous period as the 21-year-old Kidderminster facility in Sutton Park Road - which cares for people with cancer and other life-threatening conditions - kickstarts its campaign to raise £2.2 million for a new centre.

Despite having a baffling array of qualifications and positions the new 51-year-old boss started his career as a community nurse.

"I had hands-on experience of caring for people requiring specialist palliative care. I'm going back to my roots," he said.

One of Mr Rowan's main responsibilities is to handle the expansion and put the new-look Kemp - due in 2004 - on a sound footing.

"I have to support the management team and the volunteers to realise their dream of having a purpose-built hospice facility for the people of Kidderminster and Wyre Forest.

"Is the new development sustainable? The demand for care services will continue to grow. If the support that has been given to Kemp so far is indicative of continuing support then it is sustainable.

"We've got to have financial, operational and strategic plans. We've got to have the appropriate number of skilled staff. It's a quantum leap."

Mr Rowan also pointed to the importance of integrating the new hospice with NHS services in the district.

"What we need to do is to be working very closely with Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust in ensuring that the development of new services provided by Kemp are complementary."

He pledged to make the most of Kemp's independent status to secure "service level agreements" with the PCT that would hire out the new state-of-the-art facilities to the public sector.

"What Kemp has never had is a big-hitter to fight for them," he added.