A HOSPICE that provides specialist palliative care to people across the district is expanding its community services so more people can be cared for in their own homes.

The Manorlands Sue Ryder hospice, in Oxenhope, near Keighley, is continuing to develop its provision in the hope more people will be able to spend their final days at home surrounded by family and friends.

The move is being supported through Sue Ryder's national charity partnership with Bradford-based supermarket giant Morrisons and comes as Hospice Care Week is being marked nationally.

"We are working closely with other local organisations to ensure people can access a range of services able to respond to their personal care needs," said Manorlands hospice director Lizzie Procter.

"We have looked at how we can bring the expertise of hospice care directly into people's homes.

"Our community nurse specialists provide a seven-day service and in the past few months we have extended our complementary and occupational therapy and physiotherapy services."

These services can help people to keep or improve their physical and emotional wellbeing by keeping and/or improving their mobility, skills and confidence; helping them to do the things that matter to them such as hobbies; coping with difficult symptoms including fatigue, pain, breathlessness and anxiety; and helping plan for the future.

The team is able to respond quicker as people's conditions change to meet their personal care needs in the right place, at the right time, in the right way. Recently Manorlands has increased its medical team to help support more people at home.

Andy Gill has been appointed as a speciality doctor for Manorlands and with colleagues, is working to provide more specialist care and support for patients and their families in their own homes.

An 'end of life facilitator' has also been recruited to work with teams across Airedale, Wharfedale, Craven, Bingley, Eldwick, Cullingworth and Wilsden, identifying and supporting people in their final year. The aim is to enable seamless care for people approaching their last year of life, their families and carers.

Another new team member is palliative neurological community nurse specialist Tina Hayton, who offers support and advice to healthcare professionals, people living with neurological conditions, their families and carers.

The aim of the Morrisons Raise a Smile partnership with Sue Ryder is to ensure that more people receive the best possible care at the end of their lives, with support for their loved ones every step of the way. The community healthcare services being funded by the partnership at Manorlands Hospice mean that more people in the local area can receive care in their own homes, rather than having to travel to the hospice.

This year's Hospice Care Week, which runs until Sunday, is about "connecting care", something that is key to what Manorlands offers. It has nurses at the hospice, community nurse specialists who carried out more than 2,795 home visits last year, and a drop-in day care service at Airedale Hospital.

The drop-in service is for for people living with a life-limiting condition, their carers and other healthcare professionals every Tuesday, and enables the hospice to reach even more people in the community.

Those visiting the Tuesday service can meet a number of healthcare professionals from Manorlands including nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and complementary therapists to benefit from expert advice and support in end of life care.

Care is provided free by Manorlands but every year the hospice needs to raise £1.6 million through its own efforts and donations just to maintain services.

Businesses, groups and individuals are invited to organise fundraising activities or support some of the many events staged by the hospice.

People can show their support by texting MANOR to 70123 to donate £3.

Visit sueryder.org/manorlands for more details.