THE Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice closed four of its 18 beds earlier this week. The closure is intended to be temporary while the hospice fills the funding gap caused by a downturn in legacy income and donations. The closure of the beds will mean that the services which the hospice has traditionally provided, will be overhauled. Clodagh Sowton, the hospice's director of nursing, explained: "With the closure of four beds we have been able to redirect some of the resources to visiting patients in their homes and to set up an out-patients' clinic, which means that local people with a terminal illness will still be able to have hospice care." "If the hospice does not have room for a patient in the in-patient unit, we would try to make sure we visit them at home or offer other hospice services." Local resident and hospice supporter Alison Mo spoke movingly about the way the hospice cared for her mother, Kathleen, in the in-patient unit towards the end of her illness. "Knowing that my mother was in such a caring environment with specialist doctors and nurses was a great relief. "The palliative care she was given was better than anything my father or I could have offered her at home and she felt safe when she was there. "Staff and volunteers at the hospice made sure she was free of pain and had privacy and dignity at all times. "The skilled management of her medication ensured that right to the very end, she was able to communicate and be aware of the love her family, friends and the hospice had for her. "We were all able to say our goodbyes properly, which for us was so important. "A bed at the hospice made a huge difference to both my mother and my father and the rest of my family. It took the fear out of dying. "My story is not unique, as the hospice has helped many hugely grateful families from many social and economic backgrounds. "I hope that everyone in our community realises, through the Living Appeal, how lucky we all are to have the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice and how much it desperately needs our support." In early March, the hospice launched its Living Appeal, and since then has received more than £100,000 in donations in response. "The appeal has had a brilliant start and we are really grateful to everyone in the community who has shown support," said the hospice's chief executive, Sarah Brocklebank. "The challenge now is to keep the momentum going; so as to be able to plan a more financially secure future, with less reliance on legacy income, which is so unpredictable." • Anyone who is able to help the hospice's Living Appeal is urged to visit http://www.livingappeal.org.uk">www.livingappeal.org.uk, send a cheque to the hospice, or visit any of the hospice's 10 shops in local towns.
