Hospice patients were visited by Conservative Party co-chairman Dr Liam Fox.
Dr Fox was shown round St Helena Hospice in Colchester by director Rosy Stamp.
As well as viewing the facilities, including the library and education centre, he met some of the patients.
Arthur Higgs, who is staying in the hospice, told Dr Fox being in St Helena was "like heaven on earth".
Mr Higgs was on one of seven electrically-adjustable beds at the hospice, where it is hoped the other eight beds can be replaced with the superior £3,000 models.
Dr Fox said there was a history of under-funding hospices in the UK and he had previously argued they should be funded to 40 per cent by the Government, still retaining their independence.
It costs £3 million to run St Helena Hospice for a year. Dr Fox described the hospice as "fantastic" and said, from his work as a GP, he knew how invaluable such facilities were.
Published Friday January 30, 2004
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