By David LennardA HOSPITAL is to double its day care services for people living in the Waveney Valley following a £550,000 investment.The expansion at All Hallows Hospital, Ditchingham, near Bungay, means up to 22 elderly or frail patients will have access every day of the week to a range of day care services of the highest standard.

By David Lennard

A HOSPITAL is to double its day care services for people living in the Waveney Valley following a £550,000 investment.

The expansion at All Hallows Hospital, Ditchingham, near Bungay, means up to 22 elderly or frail patients will have access every day of the week to a range of day care services of the highest standard.

The centre currently caters for 10 to 12 people each day, but fundraising by the friends of the hospital and the continuing financial support of its owners, the Anglican Community of All Hallows, has enabled the expansion to be carried out.

South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon said: “Truly excellent work is going on here. All Hallows is an independent charitable hospital and the sisters and hospital staff are setting very high standards.

“The hospital combines practical, supportive care with social opportunities for the elderly.”

Work begins to extend day care facilities next month and is due to be completed early next year.

Day centre co-ordinator Fay Larkworthy believed the extended facilities would give a boost to everyone.

“At the moment we share bathrooms with the hospital and it will be wonderful to offer our day visitors full access to these facilities, without disrupting the hospital schedule,” she said.

Hilda Fairhead, 94, is a regular visitor to the day centre and she was full of praise for the staff.

“I love to be looked after here. I can have a bath knowing there's someone to help me in and out - and the atmosphere is so friendly,” she said.

“We have a cup of tea and a chat and it makes a lovely change. But I still love to go home to my own bed at night.”

All Hallows Hospital's day care includes a range of services designed to deliver social stimulus and ease of access to clinical assessment.

GP and physiotherapy is available as well as routine health testing and ongoing care assessment, plus opportunities to use manual and psychological skills and create a broad base of care that fully supports community ideals of care in the home.

The latest project is being supported by Robert Petrie, who at the age of 91 has a long history of making contributions to All Hallows Hospital.

Clair Lewin, chief executive of All Hallows Hospital, said Mr Petrie had donated funds in 1999 to provide a GP suite that now houses the out-of-hours GP co-operative and also provides rooms for social workers and counsellors.

Mr Petrie has also donated a canopy to preserve the hospital's historic main entrance while at the same time providing a shelter for visitors entering and leaving the building.

david.lennard@eadt.co.uk