Daily Flux Report

Durham MP pens letter to Government amid financial crisis at St Cuthbert's Hospice

By Alex O'Leary

Durham MP pens letter to Government amid financial crisis at St Cuthbert's Hospice

Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy has written a letter to the Government saying must "urgently step in" and help St Cuthbert's after the hospice revealed it was facing a financial crisis.

The Durham charity announced this week that it was facing both dozens of job cuts and the loss of "vital" care services amid spiralling costs.

About 28 staff now face redundancy as the hospice struggles to manage an increasing gap in finances - and if services are forced to close, this would mean about 250 fewer people will receive a service from the hospice next year.

St Cuthbert's Hospice (Image: ST CUTHBERT'S HOSPICE)

Ms Foy previously said ministers must step in to help after hearing the "hugely worrying" news, promising to write a letter to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting.

Last night (December 12), Ms Foy posted the letter on X, formerly Twitter, detailing how staffing reductions and the closing of services "cannot happen".

She said the department must "urgently step in" and help St Cuthbert's.

Here is Ms Foy's letter in full:

As previously reported, St Cuthbert's Hospice must raise £3.8m with around 42 per cent of that income coming from commissioning.

A steering group, including NHS commissioners and other partner organisations, have since been in urgent talks to find a sustainable funding model for the hospice.

Mary Kelly Foy

Whilst the outcome of these ongoing negotiations would mean the hospice can continue to provide its in-patient services, a range of further vital services may need to be reduced.

St Cuthbert's CEO Paul Marriott described on Wednesday how the hospice offers "a safety net of care to people living with life-limiting illnesses" - and was saddened to think this now "may have to be pulled from them".

He said: "What we offer is not just nice to have. It is something that should be accessible to all. We each matter to the end of our days."

Mr Marriott confirmed that the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust had stepped in to help at least keep in-patient beds open.

St Cuthbert's Hospice said it remains "fully committed to providing compassionate end-of-life care to local people, and their families, where and when they need it"

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We are working to make sure everyone has access to high-quality end of life care.

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"The choices the Chancellor made in the Budget allowed us to invest another £26 billion in health and social care.

"Hospice funding for next year will be set out in due course."

If you are able to donate to the Hospice please visit www.stcuthbertshospice.com, call 0191 386 1170 or email [email protected]

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