THE MARTLETS has received a new bed for patients receiving end of life care.

The Martlets hospice helps people with terminal illness in Brighton and Hove and throughout the county.

The £3,173 specialist bed and mattress has now been installed and is ready for use.

It comes after The Argus Appeal, the official charity of The Argus newspaper, came up with the funds for the bed.

The specialist and fully adjustable bed, with a special mattress to make patients as comfortable as possible in their final days, can be used on the ward, and can also be moved in to a patient’s home.

Imelda Glackin, chief executive for The Martlets hospice, said: “We are so grateful to The Argus Appeal for funding the purchase of two new beds. The beds will provide great comfort to people being nursed on our inpatient unit and will help us in our efforts to deliver life changing hospice care to local people.”

The hospice in Wayfield Avenue, Hove, helps people diagnosed with a terminal illness live life as fully as they can.

The hospice is supported by a team of doctors and nurses.

Despite its vital role in the city and funding from the local Clinical Commissioning Groups, it is not part of the NHS and has to fund much of its own income.

The Argus Appeal has been a long-standing supporter of The Martlets and its work. The charity shares donations with The Martlets from the annual Santa Bus appeal.

The Argus’s group managing editor and deputy chairman of The Argus Appeal, Andy Parkes, was on hand to see the new bed on a visit to the hospice.

He said: “It is fantastic The Argus Appeal has funded this bed, which will provide a great deal of comfort to those in their final days.

“We are delighted to be able to support such a fantastic hospice.

“This donation to The Martlets is just another example of how the appeal has been supporting other charities and sick children in the city for 60 years, and will continue to do for many more.”

This year The Argus Appeal is celebrating 60 years of service to the community in Brighton and Hove and across Sussex.

In September the charity was formally presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), which is the MBE for voluntary services bestowed by HM The Queen.

The Argus Appeal was founded in 1957.

Many of the individuals who have received money from the appeal have first appeared in The Argus telling readers about lives.

For information about the work of The Argus Appeal and to make a donation visit theargus.co.uk/argusappeal