As people across Gedling borough tuck into their turkey on Christmas day, one team based at a Hospice in Mapperley will still be out and about, continuing to care for terminally-ill patients across the county.

The Hospice at Home service and the new Hospice Night Support service will continue all through the Christmas period, providing care for people in the last weeks, days and hours of their lives and supporting their families through traumatic times.

Among them will be healthcare assistant, Sue Renault, who will be working overnight on Christmas eve, Christmas day and Boxing day.

Sue, of Ilkeston, who works across Nottingham and beyond, said: “Me being there to care gives families the support they need to be able to get some rest and respite themselves. It allows them to recharge their batteries a little.

“Families try to make the most of the time they have with their loved ones at Christmas but coping with the emotional side of what is going on is especially hard at this time of year. I’m happy to be able to provide that extra support over the Christmas period.”

Sue, who has worked for Nottinghamshire Hospice for four years, has spent the last few Christmases working across Nottingham.

Jo Polkey, director of Care at Nottinghamshire Hospice said: “Christmas is an especially poignant time for families who may be facing their last few days or weeks with someone.

“For someone to die over Christmas is devastating.

“A lot of services stop over Christmas and New Year but our Hospice at Home service keeps going all through the period, providing vital palliative care for patients and supporting their families.

 “Our new Hospice Night Support service, which we launched earlier this month, will also keep going over Christmas, providing crucial help and support for patients and carers who need urgent help in the night.”

There are currently 60 Hospice at Home staff caring for more than 100 patients across Nottinghamshire. There are four Hospice Night Support staff who made more than 170 visits to patients in the first trial month of the service, with up to 10 or 11 visits some nights.

An iconic tower at a hospice in Mapperley has been lit up in memory of a man from Carlton who died just a week after being diagnosed with cancer.

The Goode family were the first this year to support Nottinghamshire Hospice’s annual ‘Light up a Night’ campaign in memory of much-missed husband and father, Dave.

The former Nottingham City Transport bus driver received a shock diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer just a week before he died, and the hospice stepped in to provide home support for his last few nights.

Dave’s daughter Sarah, who set up the Loughborough hand-made craft company Purple Pumpkin Patch, and Dave’s wife Hilary, lit up the tower in his memory on what would have been his birthday.

Each year the hospice invites organisations or families to sponsor a night – turning the historic tower into a beacon that shines across the city to raise vital funds to help patients.

Sarah said: “Dad had been poorly for five weeks but the diagnosis came just a week before he died. It was such a shock.

“We didn’t know how end of life care worked and we had no idea what to do. The hospice was our lifeline. Dad wanted to be at home and having the hospice at home service enabled that to happen.

“We have lit up the tower in Dad’s memory on his birthday for the last two  years.

“We chose purple because our family business, which Dad helped set up, is called  Purple Pumpkin Patch. Me and mum drove down Woodborough Road on Saturday to see the purple light. We were so excited to see it we drove past twice!”

Organisations are asked to donate £350 – the cost of providing a nurse to care for a patient overnight at home – to light up the tower for a night in memory of a loved one. Last year the scheme raised more than £9,000.

Nottinghamshire Hospice corporate fundraiser Sarah Dunning said: “We’re honoured that Dave’s family chose to light up the tower in his memory. Thank you so much to Sarah, Hilary and all at Purple Pumpkin Patch for supporting our appeal.

“The hospice building has a rich heritage which dates back to when it was one of Nottingham’s finest residencies. Our tower is its crowning glory and when it’s lit up it can be seen for miles around. It’s wonderful that people are once again lighting up the tower to remember a loved one and spread festive cheer while supporting our patients.”

Light up a Night is part of Nottinghamshire Hospice’s Care at Christmas campaign which aims to raise £50,000 to help patients over the Christmas period.

To find out more or to sponsor a night, visit :www.nottshospice.org/get-involved/care-for-christmas/light-up-a-night/