KEMP Hospice in Kidderminster has suspended care at its day hospice due to coronavirus.

The hospice building is now closed to visitors and a number of staff are working from home to protect patients.

KEMP chief executive Heidi Hawkins said patients will be communicated with regularly via telephone and said the charity has had to make "a number of decisions that affect the services" it offers.

Heidi said: "We know these are unprecedented and unsettling times and there seems to be a lot more questions than answers. We are all concerned for our families, friends, work places and communities.

"KEMP Hospice, like many other charitable organisations, has had to consider the impact of coronavirus and we continue to re-evaluate each day and with each new announcement."

She added: "KEMP Hospice has had to make a number of decisions that affect the services we offer, but we have done this with our patients, clients, volunteers and staff at the forefront of our mind.

"Our hospice building is currently closed to visitors and we now have a number of staff, whose job allows them to, working from home. We will still be able to answer calls and respond to emails as normal.

"Care in our day hospice has been temporarily suspended and all patients will be communicated with going forward regularly via telephone.

"For those in the greatest need and without any family or other support we will do our best to assist them through this time, with shopping, medication and as much care and support as we can safely provide.

"Our bereavement counselling services have also moved to predominantly telephone support and in exceptional cases will meet clients face to face for a long as that’s possible for us to do."

KEMP has delayed all its fundraising events but is urging people to continue supporting the charity by shopping at local shops when possible.

Heidi added: "We will continue to care and support the people of the Wyre Forest suffering from a life limiting illness or in need of bereavement support during this crisis in the best way we can.

"We are proud to be the Wyre Forest Hospice and we know that together we can come through this challenging time.

"We all need to help each other and be aware of those in our community, which may become even more isolated and vulnerable due to coronavirus."

For more or to donate to KEMP, visit kemphospice.org.uk.