COTSWOLD Care Hospice has launched an appeal to provide vital care for families who are looking after a loved one.

The charity’s nurses go into people’s homes to care for those with a life limiting illness who wish to spend their final days in their own surroundings with the people they love.

Money raised will help pay for training and specialist equipment for the hospice at home nurses to support them in their work.

Cotswold Care’s hospice at home nurses provides more than 24,000 hours of care a year – all of it free of charge.

One family who understands the importance of the hospice at home service is Jaq Thompson from Nailsworth.

Her mother Ann went into hospital after developing liver problems. Sadly it was terminal and Jaq and her family wanted Ann to come home.

Cotswold Care nurses visited within hours of Ann returning from hospital and after that visited her three times a day.

“When I saw their faces I was so relieved,” said Jaq. “They treated mum with such dignity and kindness.”

The nurses spent four nights caring for Ann.

“I can’t describe the kindness they showed her,” said Jaq. “Their support allowed my sisters, Mia and Clare, and I to hold mum’s hand and comfort her, to have the time to talk about things that were special to us as a family.

“This Christmas will be our first without mum and will be tinged with sadness. Your support will benefit other patients and their families as they have done for me.”

Donate at cotswoldcare.org.uk.