FRESH hopes have arisen to fill a vital doctor role at a hospice after it announced a temporary suspension of admissions due to staffing issues.

Bosses at St Mary’s Hospice in Ulverston said they are ‘cautiously optimistic’ they will be able to fill a senior palliative care position which will allow the hospice to admit inpatients again.

The hospice suspended admissions last month after they were unable to recruit a senior doctor role.

This meant the hospice would not have the medical expertise it needs to provide round-the-clock care to inpatients.

Alison Alger, a member of the senior management team at St Mary’s Hospice, said the charity had ‘redoubled efforts’ of recruitment for a palliative doctor role.

She said: “We’ve moved towards being creative with how we’re recruiting to attract as many suitable candidates for the role as possible.

“The amount of national and local press as well as the help in the community has really helped promote the position.

“It’s all very humbling and makes you realise how many lives the hospice really touches.”

The hospice has received applicants for the role and have organised informal visits for the candidates next week.

“We have to go through a due process until the interviews,” Ms Alger said.

“We ask for a lot of experience and expertise.”

The hospice described the interest in the role as a ‘positive step’ towards lifting the suspension.

“We all really want to reopen the inpatient unit,” Ms Alger said.

“But at this time we’re increasing our hospice at home visits, which makes up 88 per cent of our care.”

Since announcing the hospice will no longer be accepting inpatients, the team said the response in the community has been ‘humbling’.

“The response in the community really shows how important the hospice is,” Ms Alger said.

“Everyone knows someone whose lives have been touched by the hospice so the news resonates with a lot of people.”