A NEW hospice 'home sitting' service which offers respite to carers of terminally ill patients in south Cumbria has been boosted by a grant from The Westmorland Gazette's parent company.

The specialist support service, provided by St John's Hospice using South Lakes-based nurses, has been awarded £7,326 from the Gannett Foundation, which is based in the USA.

The cash is to be used to provide vital equipment for the four nurses who will deliver the service.

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St John's chief Sue McGraw said she was 'absolutely delighted' to learn of the award. She said the money would support overnight nurse cover for patients who chose to die at home.

"The staff costs are being funded by South Lakes Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to employ four nurses," she said. "But everything else that is required to get the service up and running must come from charitable funds. The Gannett Foundation grant means that for the first year this can be done without dipping into donations."

The cash will be used to buy a range of items, including uniforms, mobile phones and basic operational kit. It will also help to furnish an office space above the St John's Hospice charity shop in Kendal,which will act as a flexible base for the night sitting team to hold team training, meetings, updates and supervision with hospice and community colleagues.

Sue said: "This will be the first service of its kind in the area and will mean we can provide even more individual and personalised care and support to our local community.

"The night sitting service will help patients approaching the end of life to remain living independently at home, in the place of their choice.

"Working together with other healthcare professionals based both at the hospice and in the community, the nurses will undertake a broad range of nursing support activities and duties to ensure the best quality care and support for patients.

"They will also be there for emotional and practical support to families, easing the strain on carers so they can get much needed rest overnight, and be better prepared for the days ahead. With a night sitter, carers can rest safe in the knowledge that someone is on hand to look after their loved one and is able to respond quickly and calmly to changes in patients’ conditions."