Volunteers sought for palliative care project

A charity is on the hunt for volunteers to take part in a palliative care project to help people living with a life-limiting illness.

Marie Curie has been running the hospital companion scheme across Somerset, but will begin in Yeovil District Hospital at the end of the month.

For three hours a week, volunteers sit with patients, offer emotional or practical support and attempt to be a "reassuring presence".

Sam Pearce, a volunteer services officer at the charity said: "It can be emotionally draining but at the same time really rewarding."

"We can listen to whatever's on their mind, we can give them support, we can sign post them to wherever they need to be and just really be there for that person and their family," Pearce said.

"It's just giving that better end of life care to everybody in any way that we possibly can."

She added volunteers even help families, and often help out making a cup of tea, or give them advice on where to stay.

"If you are great at listening and you are great at being present in the moment and you can give your heart to... making a better end of life for everybody, then you would be ideal for us."

Dr Sioned Evans, palliative care consultant at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: "As a hospital palliative care team, we work closely with the Marie Curie volunteers in Musgrove Park Hospital.

"We have witnessed first-hand the powerful impact that the quiet companion, and the reassuring presence, can have on patients in the last hours and days of their lives."

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.