Pilgrims Hospice, in
Canterbury

by Lauren Hood

A hospice is launching a vital new lifeline for patients as it
marks its 30th anniversary.

Pilgrims Hospices, in east Kent, hopes the 24-hour phone
line will offer support and advice to people suffering from
terminal illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease.

Run by specially-trained carers, it will offer a single
telephone number for patients, their families, carers and GPs to
call any time day or night.

Pilgrims Hospices director of nursing Paula Evans said: "The
idea for the service grew from the valuable feedback our patients -
and their families as well as healthcare professionals - gave us
about their experiences of seeking help during their illness.

"We hope the single phone number will relieve patients of some
of the burdens they can face seeking help and offer reassurance
that the appropriate contact will be made swiftly with the service
they need on their behalf. "

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Pilgrims Hospice is
celebrating its 30th anniversary

It comes as Pilgrims Hospice celebrates 30 years of care.

The centre, in London Road, opened in 1982 and is the charity's
founding hospice.

Refurbished in 2003, it has an inpatient unit of 16 beds and
provision for approximately 20 outpatients two days a week.

Pauline Homewood, who has been coming to the centre as an
outpatient for 15 months, said: "People, I think, get the wrong
idea, they think 'oh hospice... morbid', but it's not like that at
all.

"It's completely changed my outlook on life and I do so much,
I'd just sit at home otherwise."

It costs £9million a year to run the Pilgrims Hospices and they
rely heavily on the funding efforts of people in Kent.

Dilys Kingham, who attends the centre as a day patient,
said: "Without the generousity of the general public, the
hospices wouldn't exist and anything anyone can do to promote funds
will be giving something back to the community."

The hospice marked its 30th anniversary with a special service
at Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday night.

It was attended by 400 people, including patient families,
supporters, volunteers and staff of the three hospices.

• The 01233 504133 number will officially launch on Monday June 11.