A GROUP of delegates from China travelled thousands of miles to visit a Worcester hospice this week.

The 20 experts from Guanzhou visited St Richard’s Hospice in Wildwood Drive on Wednesday, July 2 to find out how people nearing the end of their lives are cared for in the UK.

The 17-bed hospice, which is open 24 hours a day and cares for more than 2,500 patients and family members every year, was chosen to host the visit by the National Gold Standards Framework Centre, a Shrewsbury-based provider of end of life care.

St Richard’s chief executive Mark Jackson said he was delighted to welcome the Chinese delegates to the facility.

“A key part of hospice work is educating others as to how they too can offer such excellent and whole-person care in other surroundings,” he said.

“With a huge and ageing population, combined with its one child policy which is resulting in insufficient younger people to care for the elderly, and a very limited primary care system, Chinese health officials are keen to find examples of best practice to implement.”

The visitors heard how staff at the hospice work with patients and their families to make sure they get the best possible care during their treatment.

For more information on St Richard’s Hospice visit www.strichards.org.uk.