A charity is offering Sudbury residents the opportunity to find out more about hospice care and support in the area.
St Nicholas Hospice Care is inviting members of the community to visit the Open House sessions it runs at the Stevenson Centre in Great Cornard.
The free sessions, which take place every Monday from 10am to midday, offer a friendly environment where people can drop in for tea or coffee, with hospice staff on hand to answer any questions.
Carol Whiteman, from Sudbury, first started using the hospice’s services when her husband became ill four years ago.
She said: “After his death I continued to receive support from the hospice through Open House. The session has such a friendly atmosphere and the people are all so nice.
“For me I enjoy being able to meet new people who have had experiences like mine, in some ways it has helped me come to terms with things, and I enjoy having people to talk to.”
John and Larraine Brown, who live in Glemsford, have been accessing the hospice’s services for around a year after it was suggested John might benefit from some of the charity’s support.
Larraine said: “At first we did have a fear of the hospice, and we did find it difficult to accept the idea that hospice support could help John.
“You hear the word hospice and you immediately have certain thoughts which is why we didn’t start coming to the hospice straight away, but once we did the fear just slipped away.
“We do enjoy coming to Open House, it is a nice environment, the staff and volunteers are very supportive and thoughtful.”
John added: “When my consultant first said the words palliative care and hospice that was it. I didn’t want to know anymore. It took some time to accept what it really meant. Coming to Open House gives us the chance to meet people and if we need to we can ask for advice.”
The hospice runs other Open House sessions in Bury St Edmunds, Brandon, Newmarket, Thetford and Haverhill and Stanton. A new session will also be starting in Barrow on Monday, July 17.
To find out more about the hospice’s Open House sessions and other services, click here to visit the charity’s website.
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