THE North-East has become one of the first areas in the country to benefit from a free, out-of-hours hospice-at-home care service.

Six months after the successful completion of a pilot scheme, the Butterwick Hospice Care group has been given the go-ahead to run a night-time service for the next three years.

It complements the services provided by the hospice group and the NHS, filling the gap between 8pm and 8am when support services to families are not normally available.

The service also aims to reduce the number of inappropriate hospital admissions at night.

Although the service is only available to people who live in the area covered by North Tees Primary Care Trust, other NHS commissioning groups in the region will follow the development with interest.

Funded by Macmillan Cancer Relief, the Butterwick group and North Tees Primary Care Trust with £750,000 over three years, it is expected to care for at least 250 patients a year.

Speaking at the launch of the service, Butterwick chief executive Graham Leggatt-Chidgey said: "This is the missing piece of a very caring jigsaw in the Stockton area and one which will bring added help, comfort and reassurance to hundreds of people in the community each year."

The service was set up after the hospice charity became aware of a need from patients and their families.

Research suggests most people with a terminal illness want to die at home rather than in hospital.

But the lack of support services to help people in their home often means patients end their days in hospital.

Any health professional in the North Tees area can refer a patient to the service.

Once they are accepted, a team consisting of an experienced hospice nurse and a care assistant will provide overnight care.

Mr Leggatt-Chidgey said: "We would hope we will eventually be able to provide the full range of hospital services, including bereavement support, counselling and complementary therapies."

Stockton GP Dr Mary Naisby said: "It is absolutely brilliant. This is going to make a real difference."

District nurse Amanda McEward said: "Patients will find it invaluable."

Mary Butterwick, who founded the hospice group 21 years ago, agreed. She said: "Any extra help for the patient has got to be a big help to the family as a whole."