AN OPEN day will be taking place at the Joseph Weld Hospice in Dorchester tomorrow to mark the first ever Hospice Care Week.

The Weldmar Hospicecare Trust is opening its doors to members of the public between 11am and 3pm to celebrate the national event.

The Dorset-based charity is joining forces with hospices across the United Kingdom to launch Hospice Care Week from October 8 to 14.

During the week, Weldmar hopes to raise awareness of hospice care and address the misconceptions that people may have about what hospice care is.

Ruth Burnhill, director of Weldmar’s nursing and patient services, said: “It is not uncommon for hospice and palliative care services to hear comments such as: “We had no idea that you did all that”.

“We hope people will come to the Weldmar Open Day, talk to us and be surprised by the variety and diversity of hospice care.”

The Weldmar Hospicecare Trust is an independent charity and the only agency providing specialist palliative care in north, south and west Dorset.

All of its services are provided free of charge – 70 per cent of its funds are raised locally, the rest is given by the NHS.

Weldmar’s staff support people and their families affected by cancer and other life-limiting diseases.

Its specialist team of palliative care nurses treat patients at home, social groups and day hospices are held in Weymouth, Dorchester and Shaftesbury.

People needing in-patient services come to Joseph Weld Hospice in Dorchester for symptom control, respite or end of life care.

The trust employs doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, a chaplain, complementary therapists, art and music therapists, social workers, bereavement workers and more than 250 patient care volunteers.

It was originally three charities, CancerCare Dorset – formerly West Dorset Macmillan Service, Joseph Weld Hospice and Trimar Hospice.

The services merged between 2003 and 2004 to form Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.

Find out more at weld-hospice.org.uk