PATIENTS and their loved ones can be supported at home as an end of life charity launches a brand new service, thanks to a £302,000 donation.

Weldmar Hospicecare has launched 'Weldmar at Home' - a new service providing care and support at home for patients who are in the last weeks and days of their lives, as well as support for their families.

In March, the charity, a specialist end of life care provider for people living in Dorset, launched a fundraiser to help support the new service which raised a huge £302,000 and bosses are thrilled that they are finally able to bring the project to life.

Mary Brice, home team leader, said: "I can't tell you how exciting it is to be getting this started. I really believe this service will offer people more choice and greater comfort at a very difficult time of their life.

"We know that home is where we feel most comfortable and where things are familiar to us. Most of us would prefer to be in our own home and the thing that may stop us doing that is that we are worried about the impact on our family and that we might not be comfortable.

"The idea that there is a team in position who can support our family and provide the guidance, advice and wisdom to allow that to happen may make people feel more comfortable about making the choice to be at home."

Director of Nursing Caroline Sweetland said: "We aim to keep the patient at the centre of our service, and by listening to our people we have found increasingly that they are wanting to stay at home for as long as possible.

"For the first time, this team will allow people to receive hand on care from Weldmar, not only in the inpatient unit, but when they are at home. We have recruited a super team."

A new team of healthcare assistants has been recruited for the new team and will be working in patients' homes across north, south and west Dorset.

Mary added: "We have put together a team with a lot of commitment and vision and, of course, who are very caring.

"We are really lucky to have recruited people with a huge amount of experience from a wide area of practice, and that means we will be able to offer a high-quality service.

"People will feel safe in the hands of people who know what they are doing and how to provide care. That reassurance will make a big difference to their end of life experience."

For more details, visit www.weld-hospice.org.uk