PATIENTS from a Poole hospice are benefitting from 12 new recliner chairs costing £25,000 to help increase mobility and independence.

Staff at Forest Holme Hospice, based on Seldown Road, also hope that the new chairs will also safeguard patients against the development of pressure sores and ulcers. In addition, they can be used by relatives as temporary beds when they stay in the hospice.

Funding for six of the chairs came from the friends and family of Angie Simms, who received care at Forest Holme in 2014.

Angie's daughter, Emma, said: "The final three nights of mum’s life were shared between myself, my sister and my father at the lovely Forest Holme Hospice.

"We watched DVDs, laughed and chatted and felt blessed that we were given the opportunity to ensure that in the final hours of her life, she was never alone."

Angie's family slept on the reclining chair next to her bedside and while they were grateful for the time they could spend with their loved one, they found that the wear and tear of the existing chairs made them uncomfortable.

"Once mum sadly died, we decided that we would like to give something back to Forest Holme to try and thank them for all they had done for us.

"So we raised some money and specifically asked for this to be put towards buying the most comfortable chair they could find for families to sleep on when their loved ones are at Forest Holme.

"We are absolutely delighted to have actually raised enough money to buy six of these chairs and even more thrilled that they are so comfortable that the patients have now claimed them for themselves."

A further donation of £1,000 was made by Sainsbury's on Pitwines Close towards the cost of the chairs.