Gentle Touch Helps Patients ; LICHFIELD

A LOCAL charity is helping to ease the suffering of patients with a bit of pampering.

Lichfield’s St Giles Hospice has strengthened its Complementary Therapy Department with the appointment of two coordinators and is now looking for volunteers to support their vital work.

Dawn Sumner, of Atherstone, near Tamworth, a complementary therapist, is heading up provision in the hospice’s out-patient unit with Amanda Davies, of Hednesford, a nurse and aromatherapist, steering the in-patient service.

Reflexology, Reiki, aromatherapy and Indian head massage are available to patients at the hospice, which cares for people living with cancer and other serious illnesses, and their carers.

Dawn said: “Complementary therapies offer patients and their carers extensive benefits including helping to reduce anxiety, regulating sleep patterns and easing depression.

“Recent research shows that if patients are more relaxed then their pain medication can be more effective.”

Amanda said: “The department is currently staffed by a small, but dedicated team of volunteer qualified therapists.

“We are now seeking to recruit and nurture new volunteers to enable the service to grow.”

Therapists interested in volunteering should contact Lesley Stinton on 01543 432031 or e-mail lesley.stinton@st-giles- hospice.org.uk.

(c) 2007 Evening Mail; Birmingham (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.