The Seaton Hospice at Home service has celebrated its first anniversary with a day out for trustees, nurses, volunteers and supporters.

Seaton Tramway provided a tram trip for the group a few days in advance of the official landmark date of April 3.

The celebrations continued at Seaton Tramway station with the cutting of an anniversary cake and entertainnent by the music group Wekulele.

Seaton Hospice at Home Nursing Team Manager Jo Barkely said: “I feel very privileged to manage this innovative specialist palliative care service for local people.

“Palliative and end of life care is something that I feel very passionately about. Every person deserves the best quality care at all times, but especially when they are at their most vulnerable, are facing a life limiting illness or approaching end of life. We provide expert 24-hour support for those patients with a palliative care diagnosis to enable patients to have the best possible quality of life.

“Since the launch of the service on April 3rd 2023 we have supported over 100 patients, and their loved ones, to enable them to die peacefully in their preferred place of care, usually at home. I would like to thank the League of Friends for funding this specialist service and the local community for their on-going support, without these we could not provide this service.”

The League’s chair Dr Mark Welland said: “This event let the nursing team know how truly valued they are. They all seemed to be having a terrific time, which was great to see.

“I’m forever indebted to them for the way in which their round the clock care compliments my role as a GP. This service greatly enhances and extends the palliative care support patients in our community can receive at home.”

The palliative nursing service is available to people who are registered at either of the Seaton medical practices, which also cover Colyton, Beer and the surrounding villages. It is fully funded by Seaton & District Hospital League of Friends, which runs charity shops and organises fundraising events to support the service.

The League of Friends has thanked Seaton Tramway, Tesco Seaton, The Original Factory Shop Seaton, Aldi Seaton and the Wekulele group for their contributions towards the anniversary event, and all their trustees, volunteers and fundraisers.

For more information, visit www.seatonlof.co.uk, www.facebook.com/SeatonLOF, phone the office 01297 20143 or shop 01297 598250