PATIENTS with a chronic illness are set to benefit from a befriending service after £150,000 was awarded to the trust which runs Basingstoke hospital.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of only a few sites in England to receive the funding from the government, to provide this new service in conjunction with Hospice UK.

It was given to the trust as part of a national research study to determine the benefits of befriending, to better understand the effects that social interactions make to people’s quality of life.

The study will be evaluated by Lancaster University.

The trust is now looking for volunteers, to give social companionship to patients who have a chronic or life-limiting illness, and might be isolated and lonely.

The idea is that visiting patients in their own home will help them feel more supported and improve their emotional well being and confidence.

Volunteers are asked to commit to visiting for two hours a week.

The trust hopes to offer the service in Basingstoke, Winchester and Andover, and will match volunteers to a patient within their local area.

Training will be provided, as well as regular and ongoing support and help.

Lara Alloway, consultant in palliative medicine and clinical director of cancer services, said: “Experience shows that befrienders provide an invaluable addition to our hospital and community services, by improving the confidence and well being of patients. I am delighted that local people will be able to benefit from this informal support from the comfort of their own homes.”

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer, or finding out more, can contact Caroline Nash on 01264 835293 or caroline.nash@hhft.nhs.uk or visit website hampshirehospitals.nhs.uk/work-with-us.