DORSET hospice Weldmar is introducing a range of new wellbeing services this month.

The charity said they had consulted with patients, carers and professional staff, about new services and as a result they will be phasing in a range of services across north, south and central Dorset over the next nine months.

The charity helps to support people in Dorset affected by cancer and other life-limiting diseases. They provide hospice services and day care services as well as providing help and support for carers.

A spokesman for the charity said: “Everyone at Weldmar wants to be at the forefront of delivering services that make our patients’ and carers’ quality of life and well-being as good as it can be.

“To find out what people wanted from our day services we consulted with patients, carers and professional staff both within and outside Weldmar.

“We then undertook a major review of our day service provision in 2014.

“As a result of this, Weldmar is now introducing a range of new services across north, south and central Dorset.”

He added: “These will provide patients and their carers with access to information and advice as well as sessions to help people manage their symptoms or illness themselves, to help with coping strategies and to enhance their wellbeing.

“These sessions will be provided in addition to our existing social day respite service because patients attending our day respite told us they wanted to keep this service because they gained considerable benefits from this. The availability of this service was also highly valued for the respite element it provides to carers.”

The sort of wellbeing services the charity will provide will include: understand and manage - programmes exploring a range of symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, anxiety, stress, loss of appetite and nutrition and how to improve daily living with those experiences; planning for the future - workshops, including Will writing, advanced care planning and advanced directives and funeral planning; complementary therapy treatments - including massage, aromatherapy, reiki; keeping fit and gentle exercise - including ‘one mile’ circular walks, chair exercise, Yoga and Pilates; pamper sessions - including beauty treatments and relaxation; advice and information - people can ‘drop in’ and speak to a trained volunteer who will support them to access a range of services whether provided by Weldmar or others or arrange a clinical appointment with a member of the Weldmar professional team; creative expression workshops - including art and craft activities, drama and music therapy, storytelling and talking therapies providing emotional support to patients and relatives or carers.

Weldmar Hospicecare Trust cares for patients with cancer and other progressive conditions, such as motor neurone disease, who require specialist help. Patients in north, south and west Dorset are given care and advice in the comfort of their own homes, in the day hospices or the inpatient unit at Joseph Weld Hospice.

For more information about the charity or how to help donate to the good cause visit weld-hospice.org.uk.