HOSPICE care charity Phyllis Tuckwell has received a donation of £3,098 from long-term supporters KatCanDo, which gave the money to pay for a new bed and mattress for the hospice’s in-patient unit in Farnham.

KatCanDo is a local charity which raises money for facilities and equipment to support local cancer patients.

Its supporters organise a calendar of fundraising events throughout the year, including barn dances, fashion shows, quiz nights and bridge afternoons.

It uses the money it raises to help local organisations buy equipment and provide services which are not always funded by the NHS, for the benefit of cancer patients in south-west Surrey and north-east Hampshire, in hospitals, hospices and in the community.

Since it was formed in 2004, KatCanDo has donated more than £30,000 to Phyllis Tuckwell, a charity which provides supportive and end-of-life care for patients and families who are living with an advanced or terminal illness, such as cancer.

These donations have enabled Phyllis Tuckwell to buy equipment including two syringe drivers, four new beds, a cough assist device and a hoist, as well as this new Enterprise 8000 bed and Autologik dynamic air mattress.

The bed can be raised and lowered using an electronic touchpad, and the head rest can also be raised to help patients to sit up.

There is a touchpad for patients to use too, so they can adjust the bed themselves, and the bed’s side panels can also be raised.

The mattress is made of linked air cushions which can be inflated or deflated independently as required, to help prevent or ease pressure sores.

On Monday, February 4, Caroline Rogers, ward manager on the hospice’s in-patient unit, welcomed to the hospice Paula Buck and Norman Borrett from KatCanDo, when they went to see the bed their donation had funded.

Kendra Cardy, a trustee of KatCanDo, said: “We are so pleased we have been able to donate the sum of money required to buy this very specialised bed and mattress.

“We are sure the mattress will enable patients to be more comfortable and as the sections inflate at different times it will prevent pressure sores developing.”

Caroline Rogers said: “We would like to thank Paula, Norman and all those who supported KatCanDo in raising this money.

“The new bed and mattress make such a difference to our patients – they really are wonderful pieces of equipment.”

Phyllis Tuckwell supports more than 250 patients, relatives and carers every day, but as the NHS/government covers only 20 per cent of its costs, it has to raise more than £20,000 a day to do this, and relies heavily on the support of the local community.

To find out more about supporting the hospice, visit pth.org.uk or call 01252 729446.