IF you were in need of a good news story in the countdown to Christmas, the positive turn of events at St Mary's Hospice in Ulverston must surely be it.

There was a real danger that this wonderful service for people with life shortening illnesses might have had to permanently close its in-patient unit, having suspended admissions in September.

That would have caused no end of problems for both those needing end-of-life care, as well as those who strive to keep the hospice going.

Yet as chief executive Val Stangoe has revealed, the search for a solution is now finally over and the mountain has been conquered.

The hospice has found an answer to the serious problem it faced, after a stressful couple of month in its long

The consultant level support - rather than being provided in-house - will come from a company which has a team of consultants who will advise via digital conferencing channels or over the phone.

In short, if it's a choice between making the most of new technology or closing the in-patient unit, preserving the service must always come first.

These last few months will have been a very worrying time for all those involved in the hospice.

They do this role, not for recognition or career advancement, but because they genuinely care.