Weldmar Hospicecare has launched a brand new service to provide care and support at home for patients and their loved ones.

Described by the director of nursing, Caroline Sweetland, as "one of the most exciting expansions to our service in some time", Weldmar at Home has been made possible thanks to a successful appeal earlier in the year.

Like all Weldmar services, it will be provided free of charge by the charity.

Caroline said: "At Weldmar, we aim to keep the patient at the centre of our services, 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 hands on care from Weldmar, not only in the Inpatient Unit but when they are at home. We have recruited a super team."

Weldmar at Home aims to provide care to patients who are in their last weeks and days of life, as well as support for their families, all in the comfort of their own home.

Mary Brice, Weldmar at 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 as 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."

A new team of health care 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."

Weldmar's catering team made a special cake for the occasion, which was cut to celebrate the launch of the Weldmar at Home service.

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