We enjoyed a lovely chat with him about his experience and digressed to holidays, his love of rugby and everything in between.

John told us “I’m not sure exactly what my preconceptions of Day Hospice were before I began attending but it’s totally different from what I had in mind.

“It didn’t take me long to realise how beneficial it would be for me and my wife and the fantastic work that goes on here. The help that I get from the nurses and staff is tremendous.

“The relaxing environment gives me clarity and I enjoy the conversations that I get to have with the nurses and other users. As well as helping me, it gives my wife five hours of respite to do whatever she wants.

“I go away from Day Hospice with a clearer idea of things that I can do better at home. I think a lot more and it has helped me to work things out for myself.”

Alice House Hospice provides a Day Hospice for people living with life limiting illnesses who live in the community.

This service is based in the Holistic Wellbeing Centre on the Hospice site and operates on Thursdays from 10am to 3pm.

Care is provided in a relaxed, friendly environment and accommodates up to 9 people according to dependency. Patients are invited for a 12 week programme and are reviewed if appropriate.

Sue Whalley, Nurse Practitioner at Alice House added: “Many people who use our services are worried about coming to Day Hospice and are pleased to find that it has such a relaxed, positive and welcoming atmosphere, where people are encouraged to spend the day getting the support they require to meet their individual health needs.

“You can come to Day Hospice for a variety of reasons. These include helping to control symptoms such as pain and sickness, improve wellbeing, respite for carers, relieve isolation and to signpost you to other services.

“Users have the opportunity to meet others who are in a similar position and share experiences, enjoy complimentary therapies, obtain advice from specially trained staff, develop new interests and stimulate old ones.”

For more information about the day Hospice service please contact Hospice reception on 01429 855555.