THE High Sheriff of Worcestershire has visited Primrose Hospice to show his support for Hospice Care Week.

High Sheriff Mark Jackson was welcomed to the hospice in St Godwalds Road, Bromsgrove, by staff and volunteers.

David Burrell, Primrose’s CEO, led a socially-distanced tour around the site and explained how the hospice had supported the community throughout the pandemic.

Mr Jackson’s visit coincided with Hospice UK’s Hospice Care Week which aims to celebrate the many aspects of hospice care.

“It was fantastic to welcome the High Sheriff to Primrose Hospice and explain to him how our staff rose to the challenge of providing care and support during the pandemic,” said Mr Burrell.

“He saw how we transformed our services to provide people with care and support at home whether that’s visits from our CNS nurse, occupational therapist and physiotherapists or phone and video calls.

“Mark also heard how we increased our bereavement support as Primrose supported more families affected by sudden deaths and trauma caused by restrictions placed on funerals and care home and hospital visits.

“It was good also to highlight how amid all this our fundraising team faced a decrease in income but have come up with new and innovative ways to raise money to keep our support free of charge for our community.”

Mr Jackson said: “The holistic nature of hospice care that seeks to meet all the needs of both the patient and those that love them at a very difficult time has always been very important indeed.

“More so even now that we struggle to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Primrose Hospice and its services are absolutely vital to the support it gives to the people of Bromsgrove and Redditch at this most difficult time.

“But it also needs their on-going support as its ability to fundraise has been seriously hampered by the restrictions of lockdown and social distancing. Please support your local hospice.”

It costs £1.75million annually to run Primrose Hospice and of this totally £1.5million must be raised independently by the charity.

Primrose Hospice is currently running Make A Will Month with local solicitors King Will’s Will Service and Astwood Law offering appointments and waiving their fees in return for a donation to the hospice.

There is also the chance to use online Will writing service Guardian Angel at a time to suit you.

To book an appointment or use Guardian Angel, visit https://primrosehospice.org/events/make-a-will-month