Claims north Derbyshire is being 'short-changed' as Chesterfield hospice faces uncertain future

Toby Perkins says there is a ‘long-standing discrepancy’ in palliative care funding between north and south Derbyshire and called on health bosses to redress the balance.

It comes as Ashgate revealed it could have to make compulsory job cuts after seeing its income squeezed by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Labour MP Mr Perkins said: “This is an extremely worrying time for Ashgate Hospice, their hardworking staff, and the patients who rely on the excellent end-of-life care they provide.

"I have contacted Derby & Derbyshire CCG to provide a new funding package to Ashgate that will not only get them through the immediate crisis, but also provide the funding they need to continue to provide services in the long run.

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"I am aware that there is a longstanding discrepancy between palliative care funding between north and south Derbyshire, and the CCG should prevent patients in the north of the county continuing to be short-changed.”

Recent reports suggested that 56 of England's 169 hospices are at serious financial risk – and Mr Perkins said there are wider issues affecting the hospice sector.

"The pandemic has shown the fragility of the end-of-life sector and it is clear that hospices can no longer be expected to rely upon charity retail, coffee mornings or fundraising marathons to prop them up,” he added.

"I have written a letter to (health secretary) Matt Hancock urging the Government to provide an emergency funding package to hospices to ensure they can get through the second wave of the virus and the winter months and to reflect on whether government’s funding of the hospice sector is sustainable in the longer term.”

A spokesperson for NHS Derby & Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group said, as ‘a matter of urgency’, it was working with the hospice and ‘our health and social care partners’ to further understand the challenges it is facing and consider what options are available.

“Whilst we are working through these options, it is important to provide assurance on the CCG’s continued commitment to supporting excellent end of life care as set out in the Joined Up Care Derbyshire End of Life Strategy,” he added.

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