Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice is launching a 24-hour phone line from 1st July giving around the clock support to its patients and their families.

The 24/7 Sue Ryder Patient Line will put families through to a Sue Ryder Nurse from the hospice in Cheltenham, no matter the time of day or night, giving advice on managing a life-limiting illness, reassurance if there is a change in condition or symptoms, and help in accessing further care if it is needed.

It builds on a three month 8am to 8pm pilot of the phone line.

Debbie Williams, head of clinical services at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, said, "Our patients value how we support their family members and carers too, and that we can answer any questions they have. Those questions might be about the symptoms they're experiencing, a change in condition or simply the need for reassurance.

"Our Patient Line helps answer those questions. It helps people feel like they're not alone after they've gone home from their day hospice session, been discharged from our inpatient unit or are in between visits from our Hospice at Home team too.

"Around the clock specialist palliative care advice over the phone is not something which is currently very widely available, so we're thrilled we are able to offer this service to our patients in Gloucestershire."

The launch of the Patient Line is thanks to a donation from The Summerfield Trust, which has seen the amount of at-home palliative care given by the hospice double in the past six months.

The 24-hour Sue Ryder Patient line is available on 0300 303 1395 and is open to anyone receiving care from, or being referred to, Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice and any of its services.

For more information visit www.sueryder.org/leckhamptoncourt.