Wokingham Day Hospice – formerly Macmillan House – in Barkham Road, has received a specially adapted minibus courtesy of the Wokingham District Cancer Care Trust (WDCCT).

The vehicle can transport up to three wheelchairs at one time and has a winch system which makes transportation more comfortable for patients and helps to maintain their dignity.

Improved capacity and ease of use also allows more patients to be transported at one time.

Melanie Meecham, day therapy sister at the hospice, said: “Increasingly, we are caring for patients with more complex needs and we needed a new specially adapted minibus to meet our existing and future demands.

“Our new minibus enables us to offer Wokingham District patients improved access to our personalised and coordinated care and we cannot thank WDCCT enough for their donation.” WDCCT president and Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire Mary Bayliss officially handed over the new vehicle last Thursday at the hospice.

Dr Martin Haslam, chairman of the WDCCT, said: “[The day hospice’s] specialist team of health care professionals and trained volunteers provide services which are a real lifeline.

“Providing a strong transportation service to ensure these individuals have access to the care they need in order to live the life they choose is therefore essential.”