It means businesses and individuals can make tax-deductible donations towards a Northern hospice, which will soon be subject to a state government feasibility study.

Spokeswoman Barb Baker said  John Morris,   Michelle Strickland and  Phillip Lebski would serve as inaugural directors, and a board would be formed from a limited member pool.

Ms Baker said it was their hope that the public would help fund a hospice in collaboration with the state government.

‘‘They (the community) have been telling us for quite some time that this is what they want, and I think now’s the time for them to come forward, put their hand up and help out,’’ Ms Baker said.

She said she was hopeful that the feasibility study would rule in favour of a hospice, and the state government would pitch in.

‘‘With the ageing population, and chronic disease, and the cancer status of Tasmanians, we think that the need (for a hospice) will have increased,’’ she said. ‘‘The other thing is the financial factor. It’s much more financially viable to have someone in a hospice than in an acute hospital bed.’’

Ms Baker said they would like to build a hospice at the Launceston General Hospital car park facing Howick Street, where patients would have easy access to the hospital and established gardens.

‘‘Whilst it would be independent of the hospital, we would be able to use some of the medical staff and maybe the hospice would in turn be used as a resource for the wards in the hospital if they had palliative patients,’’ she said.

The foundation will be officially launched on Friday, November 14. For more information, contact Barb Baker on 0408911491.