ST Leonard's Hospice is to close its Day Care service and replace it with a new expanded scheme - but not until more than three months later.

The York hospice says it will open The Sunflower Centre in the New Year, bringing together its day care service, a proposed outpatient clinic and therapy areas for people with palliative care needs.

A spokesman said it will provide a more flexible approach, and could offer longer opening hours, and evening and weekend sessions, as well as ‘pop-in’ sessions offering clinical and practical support to patients and carers.

But one current Day Care patient, Peter Keech, pictured below, claims the delay between its planned closure in September and the opening of the new centre is 'barmy.'

York Press:

Mr Keech, 67, a former HR director from Elvington who suffers from motor neurone disease, said he went to the hospice every Friday, and received 'wonderful care from superb' volunteers and staff.

"We get a chance to meet up and chat, and enjoy friendship and camaraderie, and we have a lovely lunch," he said. "For some of those attending, it's the only time they get out each week and it's a real lifeline. They must surely have been able to scrap day care and launch the new centre without this gap in provision."

Emma Johnson, director of clinical services, said in a letter to Mr Keech and other patients that a 'difficult' decision had been taken to close the daycare service, adding: "We understand that this may be difficult for some of you."

She added that Daycare nursing staff would talk to patients personally about the decision and the ways they could be supported during the closure.

A hospice spokesman said Day Care would not be available for a 'short transition period' from September during preparations and training for the centre's opening.

He said about 25 people currently used Day Care three days a week, but the changes would see its services becoming more widely available .

"At the heart of The Sunflower Centre will be the chance for patients, especially those who still live in their own homes, to have social interaction with other people," he said.

"All the current Day Care staff will continue to work in the hospice, and the new centre will be able to offer meals and services like hairdressing, complementary therapy, arts and other activities. Occupational therapy and physiotherapy, as well as specialist clinics and medical input, will be available on a less-rigid timetable."

Hospice chief executive Martyn Callaghan said: "Our Day Care model has been much-loved and has served us well, and we are confident than when The Sunflower Centre opens, it will extend the benefits to more people in a much more responsive way."