NORTH Devon Hospice has received a landmark donation of £73,414 from the Holsworthy Hospital League of Friends.

This means more people in the Holsworthy area can get vital care and support from the hospice towards the end of life, provided closer to their home.

The League of Friends was originally established to support Holsworthy Community Hospital. With beds closed and services stripped back, the trustees have taken the decision to wind down the charity.

The donation will directly support patients and families at The Long House, North Devon Hospice's outreach centre in Holsworthy. Opened in 2015, The Long House was purpose-built to bring care closer to home for people living in the area.

This significant gift means even more people facing a life-limiting illness in the Holsworthy area, and their loved ones, can access expert care, comfort and support closer to home.

Stephen Roberts, chief executive of North Devon Hospice, said the gift was one of the most moving the hospice has received: "We simply cannot find words that feel big enough to express our gratitude for this extraordinary gift. This is far more than a donation.

“It’s an act of remarkable kindness, trust and generosity that will have a lasting impact on the people and families we’re privileged to care for throughout Holsworthy and the surrounding area.

"For decades, the League of Friends has stood beside Holsworthy Community Hospital, raising funds, giving their time, and ensuring countless patients received the best care possible. While it’s incredibly sad that the position of the hospital has led to this difficult decision, there is something profoundly moving about the group’s final act.

“Their remarkable legacy does not come to an end. Instead, the League of Friends has chosen to invest in the future of compassionate care within the same community they have served so faithfully for decades.”