A NEW day hospice has been launched in Swanage.

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care opened the service, at Swanage Cricket Club, on April 19.

Amy Coates, senior Purbeck staff nurse, said: “We are really pleased to be offering these additional services in Swanage, following increased patient numbers in the area and identifying this unique need for further support in the community.”

The Swanage Day Hospice will run every Friday from 10am until 3pm and will accommodate around 10 patients.

Some are new patients and some currently attend our Wimborne facility but would benefit from being able to access services closer to home, which is very much part of our long-term care strategy.

“Each week, the services offered will rotate between Complementary Therapies, Creative Art and Occupational Therapy,” Amy added.

Day hospice clinical team manager, Debbie Tallick-Wyatt, said: “This essential new service will mean that we will need more volunteers, in particular patient drivers, to assist our patients in getting to our Day Care in Swanage.

“Anyone interested in the opportunity to become a Lewis-Manning volunteer is urged to get in touch.”

Maggie Hardy, a now retired past-Purbeck NHS manager, said: “I’m delighted that Lewis-Manning is working with the cricket club and they are able to support the charity in such a wonderful building.

“There will be other local groups using the location, including the Parkinson’s Support Group. There is great synergy here for the community.”

One patient, Brian, added: “I’m excited to come here in Swanage on Fridays now instead of Wareham on a Tuesday, this is closer to home.

“This gives me somewhere to go and something to do to get out of the house. And it gives my wife, who is my full time cared, some peace.”

Fellow patient Rod added: “In everything I have done throughout my life I have always felt the need to try to be useful. Lewis-Manning helps me do this.

“I feel I want to support the others in the group, support my wife by giving her a break, while I can enjoy some exercise and any activities.”

Clare Gallie, CEO at Lewis Manning, said: “We are delighted to bring another important end of life service to Swanage.

“Our local charity is here to support people with life limiting illness and is already helping patients and their families at home and closer to home.”