HIGH standards of palliative care are being offered to people in Bucks with life-limiting illnesses after two hospices merged.

Wednesday, April 13 saw the launch of Thames Hospicecare at the Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, after the Thames Valley Hospice merged with the Ascot-based Paul Bevan Hospice..

A spokesman said: "Combining the strengths of these two well loved and respected hospices will ensure the delivery of even higher standards of palliative care to those living with a terminal or life-limiting illness in Buckinghamshire, East Berkshire and parts of Surrey and Oxfordshire.

"This care also provides for the patients' families and carers."

People with terminal or life-limiting illness can benefit from inpatient care, daycare and hospice at home services.

There are estimated to be more than 6,000 deaths per year from cancer in the three counties of the Thames Valley.

Up to 1,500 of these patients will require inpatient palliative care and up to 4,000 may require help from palliative care support teams.

The evening was hosted by Sue Saville, health correspondent at ITN News.

Speakers included Andrew Lansley MP, shadow secretary of state for health in the last parliament, Baroness Julia Neuberger, David Praill, chief executive of Help the Hospices and the Duchess of Norfolk, president of Thames Hospicecare.

Also attending were Bernard Gallacher, patron of Thames Hospicecare and Birds of a Feather actress Linda Robson, supporter of Thames Hospicecare.