A MAN has shown his gratitude to staff and carers at the Isobel Hospice by donating �1,300 to the unit where he now lives. Albert Malone, 64, made the gesture to pay for nine new flat screen televisions at the hospice s in-patient unit, near the QE2

A MAN has shown his gratitude to staff and carers at the Isobel Hospice by donating �1,300 to the unit where he now lives.

Albert Malone, 64, made the gesture to pay for nine new flat screen televisions at the hospice's in-patient unit, near the QE2 hospital in Howlands, WGC.

Mr Malone suffers from Alpha Antitrypsen Deficiency, a debilitating condition he has lived with for over 30 years, and became a "continuing care" patient back in December after he could no longer be cared for at home.

"My condition means enzymes eat into my lungs and I have now suffered for over 30 years," said Mr Malone. "It's only in the last five that I haven't been able to care for myself and have become housebound. If I hadn't been admitted here, I would have ended up in a nursing home, which I really didn't want, and they would not be able to give me the specialized care that I need."

A former television salesman, Mr Malone said he decided to make the donation after nurses kept coming into his room to watch Strictly Come Dancing on his television.

"I thought how nice it would be for everyone to have that opportunity if they felt well enough," said Mr Malone, formerly of Salisbury Road, WGC.

"I like watching TV and DVDs, and as a former TV and HiFi salesman, I like a good quality set. The portables the patients had were small and only had terrestrial channels. I wanted them to have something a bit more up-to-date, which is why I made the donation."

"I know all the nurses really appreciate the donation I have made, but they can never know how much I appreciate them and everything they have done and are doing for me." he added.