COMPLEMENTARY therapies can help to improve well-being and Grove House is looking to increase the size of its team by recruiting experienced voluntary therapists. Currently therapists at the St Albans day hospice are all fully qualified in accordance with

COMPLEMENTARY therapies can help to improve well-being and Grove House is looking to increase the size of its team by recruiting experienced voluntary therapists.

Currently therapists at the St Albans day hospice are all fully qualified in accordance with national guidelines and are experienced in treating patients with a diagnosis of cancer and life-threatening illness.

The therapists give their time on a voluntary basis and Linda Bonafoux, who co-ordinates the service is looking for more of them to come into the hospice on a regular basis and treat patients in their own homes.

One of the current voluntary therapists, Christopher Crawley, trained as a reflexologist after retiring from teaching some years ago.

He said: "I come to Grove House once a week on a Thursday. It's a lovely happy place to be and I really enjoy working with the patients. I find my mornings at Grove House personally rewarding. I gain and the patients gain."

One of his patients was struggling to cope with the side-effects of her chemotherapy treatments, feeling exhausted all the time and finding it difficult to keep going. She explained: "My doctor told me about Grove House in St Albans. I hadn't realised I could use their services as I live in Hemel Hempstead. After an initial consultation I was offered a course of six therapy sessions. It was wonderful; I forgot about everything and just relaxed.

"My energy levels really increased and I started sleeping through the night. Grove House really helped me to cope."

For further information about volunteering at Grove House call Wendy Burns on 01727 731020 or email her at wendy.burns@grove-house.org.uk.