John Leech MP demands 'right to hospice care'
12.00.00am GMT Thu 7th Dec 2006
John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, has joined forces with St Anne's Hospice to demand that everyone with a terminal illness should have the right to hospice care.
Their call follows a new poll by the charity, Help the Hospices, that reveals that 87% of people believe that everyone with a terminal illness should have the right to hospice care. Almost all interviewees thought that government funding to hospices should be increased.
Following a visit to St. Anne's to meet its Chief Executive, John Leech MP said:
"St Anne's Hospice needs fair and consistent payment for the excellent care it delivers on behalf of the NHS. St Anne's Hospice cares for more than 3,000 patients and their families every year. It provides a vital community service that must be protected at all costs. I am meeting the Chief Executive on Friday to discuss the next stage of our campaign."
"Sensitive and specialised end-of-life care is vital, but is all too often overlooked. Currently hospices spend around £150 million more on NHS patients than they receive in NHS funding, and this is putting their future at risk."
Terry McDonnell, Chief Executive of St Anne's Hospice commented:
"This survey shows how much hospice care is valued. We need charitable donations of £16,000 a day just to keep going, and without full recovery for our services from the NHS in the long term, St Anne's Hospice might not have a sustainable future."
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