BASINGSTOKE MP Maria Miller and the deputy leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council met with staff and volunteers at a Basingstoke hospice earlier this month to mark World Hospice Day.

Mrs Miller, along with the deputy leader of the borough council, Cllr Ranil Jayawardena, visited St Michael’s Hospice, in Aldermaston Road on October 11.

The hospice supports families across north Hampshire with its day services, hospice at home team and its inpatient unit.

Care is provided free of charge at the hospice and the hospice needs to raise £2.4million a year to be able to provide the services.

Mrs Miller said: “World Hospice Day is an important opportunity to mark the work done to support hundreds of families every year. St Michael's is Basingstoke's charity and rightly gets enormous support from the community.

“The staff and volunteers at St Michael's support families through difficult and challenging times, continually developing their services to respond to the needs of families.

“The Hospice at Home service is growing in importance as a way to support treatment at home rather than in hospital."

Iain Cameron, director of income generation at the hospice, added: “We were delighted that Maria Miller was once again able to visit St. Michael’s Hospice and witness first-hand the enhancements made since her last visit.

“Maria is a long standing supporter of the Hospice and takes a keen interest in both fundraising and clinical developments. We were also delighted to welcome Cllr Ranil Jayawardena, for his first visit to St. Michael’s, we hope to welcome them both back to the hospice in the very near future.”