A WORCESTER hospice is taking part in a national campaign raising awareness of the varied different forms of hospice care available to those who need it.

As part of Hospice Care Week starting on Monday, October 6, St Richard’s Hospice has joined forces with more than 100 other similar organisations across the country to promote care available in patient's own homes or the community.

During the week the hospice in Wildwood Drive will open its doors to visitors from 2.30pm on Thursday, October 9, where anyone interested can take a tour of the facility and find out more about the care on offer.

The charity is also piloting a new drop-in support session at its new shop in St Swithin’s Street, which will see staff on hand at the store every Friday between 1.30pm and 3pm offering informal advice and support to anyone with a life-threatening illness or caring for someone.

St Richard’s Hospice chief executive Mark Jackson said he was “delighted” to be part of the campaign.

“We will be encouraging our supporters to share their stories and memories of hospice care, especially through social media, to help spread the word that hospice care is not only available in a hospice building,” he said.

“We hope that people will realise that hospice care is more diverse than they might first think and will become more aware of where else it is available, especially the support hospices offer to people in their own homes.

“We decided to pilot the new drop in sessions to enable us to extend our care and support to the wider community, and we hope that patients not already using our services will be able to gain useful advice.”

St Richard’s Hospice provides free palliative care for more than 2,500 patients with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses and their families every year.

To book a place at the open day on October 9 call 01905 763 963.

For more information on St Richard’s Hospice visit www.strichards.org.uk.