DERIAN House children's hospice cares for children who are terminally ill or have conditions which will worsen over time.

Yet, that doesn't mean the hospice has to be doom and gloom, as health reporter ANGELA ZIGLER found out...

MANY people do not know what to expect when they visit a hospice.

Whether they expect a clinical, hospital-style centre or a place in mourning, they never fail to be surprised when they walk into Derian House for the first time.

It is something staff have been seeing since the hospice opened in Astley Village, Chorley, eight years ago.

Even parents whose children are to be admitted for short-term care, can be scared of what to expect and need to see for themselves what it is like.

But they are all pleasantly surprised - and maybe a little relieved - by the welcoming and upbeat atmosphere. The walls and corridors are covered with pictures of children who have been there, showing some of their fun times, from stroking a guinea pig in pet therapy, to just enjoying a cuddle with their parents.

Even the entrance hall has teddies galore and a huge rocking horse.

Staff are aware that one of the biggest unknowns for parents is not knowing what to expect. Many expect doom and gloom and are unprepared for the lively atmosphere.

General manager Trevor Briggs said: "In the main, it is a happy environment, but there are times, of course, when it can be very distressing for obvious reasons. We try to keep that to a minimum."

On the surface, its work sounds unbearably sad, but take a peak under the surface, and you find countless tales of cherished children who fought against the odds, and whose families spent some of their most valuable moments with them, thanks to the hospice.

Children from birth to 21 come from across the North-West for care, from Carlisle down to Manchester and West Yorkshire to the Wirrall, and the whole of East Lancashire.

They are either terminally ill or have degenerative problems, which will worsen over time. It currently has 300 families registered, although it caters for just nine children at any one time in the hospice itself.

There are four self-contained flats where families can stay together for weekends, giving them the chance to spend quality time with their child, or concentrating on spending time as a whole family.

Staff are also on call 24 hours a day for families, and the hospice also offers care in the home for those who want their children to be at home as much as possible - its hospice at home service.

The emotional nature of the work means staff, children and their families can become incredibly close. For some, the hospice and its staff become a part of their lives, even after their child has died, for others, it is a place associated with some heart wrenching memories.

Trevor said: "We hope that we have done our best for them. We hope that we have helped them in what is a very difficult time." Part of the hospice's work is also concentrated on siblings, the ones who, out of necessity, will have to take a back seat to the needs of their poorly brother or sister.

It can be a very confusing time for them. Fund-raising consultant for the charity Sue Poppit said: "It is a very difficult journey for the family as a whole and for the brothers and sisters as well, it can be terribly difficult. That is why we try to provide an emotional support system for the whole family." There are also counsellors who offer pre-bereavement and bereavement support for the whole family, from younger brothers and sisters right up to grandparents.

All of this costs money, and staff know they have a huge mountain to climb every year for funding.

It takes more than £1 million to run its 24-hour-a-day, 365 days a year service and, despite that, just 10 days are paid for by statutory funding. The other 355 days of round-the-clock care must be paid for by donations and fund raising.

Although there are many adult hospices, Derian has been a pioneer in the children's hospice movement.

Sue said: "We have very much ploughed the first furrow so to speak, particularly when it comes to home care."

"We have developed such a good reputation," said Trevor. "We have visitors coming from overseas coming to look at the concept here.

"We are also probably one of the most cost effective hospices in the country, which is partly down to the committed team of volunteers and staff we have."