HEALTH chiefs have hailed a unit of hospice beds in Darlington as a success, six months after it was opened to the public.

A half-yearly audit of the in-patient unit at St Teresa's Hospice has been carried out.

The unit, staffed by district nurses from Darlington Primary Care Trust and Marie Curie Cancer Care, has provided a less clinical alternative to hospital for patients needing respite care and symptom control.

Hospice medical director Dr Trevor Birnie said: "We are delighted with the beds.

"It has helped identify a group of people who, in the past, would have died at home at too much cost to their carers."

The unit was opened following a huge fundraising effort by supporters of the hospice, backed by The Northern Echo.

Hospice nurse manager Elaine Isham said: "The majority of people who have used the unit have come in for respite care, allowing their carers to recharge their batteries and enabling patients to return home to die if that is their wish.

"The nurses support the carers as much as the patients and we have found a real appreciation from relatives that they can take some quality time off for themselves, safe in the knowledge their loved ones are being cared for."

In the first six months, 76 people were admitted to the hospice unit, 56 of which were for respite care, 12 for terminal care and eight for symptom control.

Of those, 26 admissions would otherwise have resulted in a hospital stay. Of the 14 admissions from hospital, eight patients died in the hospice, one was re-admitted to hospital and five went home.

Patients had a variety of conditions ranging from heart and renal failure to MS and cancer, most commonly breast and lung cancer.

"Our whole team is to be congratulated for all their hard work, dedication and loving care for their patients, relatives and friends," Mrs Isham said. "These beds were a long time coming but, judging by the comments we have received, they were well worth the wait."