A WINCHESTER hospice has announced a major expansion of its services.

Naomi House, based in Sutton Scotney, is launching a comprehensive community-based respite service for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.

It comes after families who use the hospice told bosses they would benefit from high standards of care within their own homes.

Chris Robinson, chief executive, said: “We know from many families that help in their own home is really practical and helpful. This is the next logical step in our development.

“We want to work with existing local services, be they from the NHS or other delivery agents, and work in partnership and collaboration wherever possible.”

He added: “It is an exciting time for Naomi House as we look at a number of ways to further enhance the valuable service we offer children and their families.”

Naomi House already provides emergency and end of life care as part of its Hospice at Home service and has run smaller scale community initiatives in the past but this is the most significant project to date.

Initially rolling out in Hampshire, it is expected the service will be offered to families in Wiltshire, Dorset, Berkshire, West Sussex, the Isle of Wight and Surrey shortly afterwards.

Bosses eventually hope to be in a position to offer a similar service at jacksplace, which cares for teenagers and young adults.

The hospice will begin setting up the scheme this financial year by recruiting a dedicated team, and will be working closely with prospective delivery partners such as the NHS and local authorities.

It has been an eventful year for the charity, including a visit from the Duchess of Cambridge in April and the resignation of Prof Khalid Aziz, who has been chairman for 20 years and leaves the role in September.