 Lying in a hospital bed just over a month ago, brave grandmother Elizabeth White was crippled with pain and barely able to move, as cancer spread through her lungs, spine and leg. The 65-year-old retired care worker had almost given up hope when someone mentioned St Oswald's Hospice in Gosforth, Newcastle, and the services it provides for people with life- threatening illnesses. Reluctantly, Elizabeth agreed to go there for pain after that to use their unique day service. And today the North Shields grandmother is all smiles as she sits relaxing in a comfy chair in the hospice's day room, as a harpist nearby plays soothing melodies. Thanks to the hospice the pain is under control with a clever mix of tablets, and Elizabeth has also been given the opportunity to visit St Oswald's day hospice once a week. "I really love coming here - the staff are so friendly and it feels really laid-back," said Elizabeth, who has one 11-year-old grandson, Daniel. "It's also great to meet other patients and talk to them about each others' illnesses or how their treatment is getting on. "The staff really spoil us and it's so different from what I thought St Oswald's was about. "I thought people came here just to die but that's far from the truth and my decision to come here was the best one I ever made." Elizabeth had been coping with the lung tumours for about a year but after a fall and an injury to her leg, the cancer spread and the pain intensified. She stayed in the hospice for three weeks in July while doctors brought the horrific pain under control. "The pain was so bad in my leg that if I'd had a saw I would have taken it off," says Elizabeth, who has two daughters and one son. "My family said they hadn't seen me smile in ages before I started coming to St Oswald's." She's been taking advantage of the day service for around three weeks, taking part in shopping trips, meals at local pubs, art gallery visits and general socialising. Patients and their families are also treated to free sessions with physiotherapists, occupational therapists and professionals offering relaxation techniques and massage, as well as artists and musicians keen to entertain. The service, run Tuesday to Friday between 10am and 3pm, is free and is managed by three qualified nurses, two auxiliary nurses, as well as around four volunteers. It attracts around 22 visitors a day and numbers are increasing all the time. "It's a very important service and one which increases the patients' qualify of life," said staff nurse Sue Laybourn, from Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland. "Each patient is treated as an individual and members of their family can also come along for advice about any problems they have." Also among the day hospice visitors is retired credit collector Betty Smith, 77, from Hazlerigg , Newcastle, who takes part in relaxation sessions, craft lessons and massage treatments. "I've been coming for six months now but originally I thought it was going to be a very sad place," said mum-of-three and grandmother-of-six Betty, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2004. "But this is a lovely place and they can help you with so many things from learning a new hobby to getting information about any benefits you might be entitled to." --------------------------------------------------------- Charity needs support St Oswald's is a charity which relies heavily on voluntary donations to ensure it can continue to look after local adults and children. Annual running costs for the hospice are around £4.5m, of which over £3.5m has got to be raised through donations with the rest comes from statutory authorities such as primary care trusts. As well as medical and respite services, St Oswald's also provides a bereavement support service, which is run by their bereavement support co-ordinator Irene Mothersill. St Oswald's also provides support to carers, where they can chat in confidence with nurses and trained volunteers, or to a fellow carer in a similar situation. For more information contact Val Purvis, Day Services Administrator. | 
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