READERS are being asked for help in the fight by the Primrose Hospice and Redditch and Bromsgrove Primary Care Trust (PCT) to get a palliative care unit at Bromsgrove's Princess of Wales Hospital.

Funding has been confirmed for the unit but the Primrose has to contribute £100,000 to the building cost - estimated to reach £850,000 - and £100,000 each year towards running costs.

North east Worcestershire currently has no in-patient palliative beds for Redditch and Bromsgrove patients.

The Primrose Unit would provide short periods of specialised care at times of particular need, improving quality of life for patients with advanced disease.

Primrose staff and the PCT are hoping people from both towns will contribute towards funding by committing to a regular donation, gift-aided where appropriate to increase each donation by 28 per cent.

Primrose chairman John Burman said: "The unit has been a long time coming and we'd not be where we are today without the support of the Arden Cancer Network and the Redditch and Bromsgrove PCT - we're very grateful."

The specialist-designed accommodation will include six bedrooms with en-suite facilities, a day room, visitors' room and access to a garden area.

Fund-raising director Jane Wardman said: "The provision of these beds is absolutely vital and I hope people will help us raise our share of the running costs.

"If just one per cent of the community donated £5 a month, we'd have sufficient funds to meet our commitment."