EVERY year Hospiscare looks after 2,000 terminally ill people and their families in Exeter, East and Mid Devon and has helped a total of 22,500 people since 1982. In the past year Hospiscare nurses have made home visits to 133 people living with a terminal illness in the Okehampton area.

Currently Hospiscare is looking after 50 people in the Okehampton area, with 16 people admitted to the Hospiscare hospice in Exeter during the past year. Hospiscare has day therapy centres in Exeter, Tiverton and Seaton.

These services are free of charge to everyone who needs them throughout the area. Hospiscare works with people with a wide range of life-threatening conditions, including cancer, motor neurone disease and heart disease.

Hospiscare has seven doctors and consultants and 28 community nurses specialising in end of life care. A total of 1,097 volunteers provide a vital contribution enabling Hospiscare to offer a wide range of services; patient support, bereavement support, complementary therapies, chaplaincy support, administration, transport and fundraising.

This year it will cost Hospiscare £5-million to offer its services, with £1.2-million contributed by the NHS and the remaining funded through legacies, grants, Hospiscare's 19 shops and retail services as well as significant community fundraising.

Hospiscare chief executive Glynis Atherton said: 'Hospiscare brings hope, support and care to thousands of people at a time when they need it most.

'What makes Hospiscare special is that we see each patient and members of their family as individuals, with their own needs and wishes.

'Diagnosis with a life-threatening illness does not mean life grinds to a halt. Patients need help in dealing with the consequences together with the special care and dedicated support that only Hospiscare can give them.

'Caring for people approaching the end of their life is a challenge, especially as many patients experience a period of chronic illness during this time. More and more people will be affected by terminal illnesses and Hospiscare wants to be there for them, when they need us.'