The TV weather forecaster said she had done a lot of work for Macmillan Cancer Relief, the charity that raised the cash to build the facility, because she felt a huge debt to Macmillan for the care they had given her grandfather when he was terminally ill.

Making a family occasion of today’s event, Heather was accompanied by her mum Helen, whose father it was that gave the inspiration for the weather girl’s involvement with Macmillan.

The two women were hugely impressed by the open plan, relaxing building, which replaces what Tayside Health chiefs themselves described as old-fashioned, unfit for purpose and cramped facilities in the previous unit.

The new facilities include a daycare unit, where patients can attend several times a week and join in a wide range of activities or just potter in the gardens.

There is also a state-of-the-art specialised in-patient palliative care unit, which can accommodate up to 25 patients. The building features 12 single bedrooms with en suite facilities,and four three-bed wards.

Martin Leiper, consultant in palliative medicines, said, “Patients have already expressed their surprise at the quality of the rooms and the thoughtfulness of the design.

“This new building helps to maintain as much comfort and dignity as possible for patients and their families when they are facing such a hard time.”

The generosity of the people of Tayside was paramount in raising the cash for the building which went into service last spring.

Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Relief in the UK, Mr Peter Cardy, told guests cancer continues to increase, with one and a quarter million people living with the disease across the UK.

He said while the numbers grew “inexorably”, the good news was that the numbers of people dying from cancer was declining.

But he said his organisation could not “pack up our tents” and say their work was done. “Our job is going to get bigger,” he said.

The creation of the facilities at Roxburghe House came about as the result of a longstanding partnership between the charity and NHS Tayside, whose chairman Peter Bates paid tribute in particular to the staff who care for all those patients who come through the front door.