Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 71,965
Saw a bit about this on BBC South the other night and its also in todays Argus. The Day Hospice obviously means the world to its users and it would be a tragedy if it had to close its day care service. Obviously money's tight in the current climate, but surely there must be some local individual or company who could stick their hand in their pocket to keep this most valuable of local services going?
'Growing anger at The Martlets day hospice closure
QUESTIONS have been raised over a decision to suddenly close a day hospice.
Patients, staff and volunteers at The Martlets Hospice in Hove have contacted The Argus with concerns about how the closure was handled and calling for the service to be kept on.
Hospice bosses announced earlier this month that the day hospice would close on October 26, saving it around £190,000 over the next 12 months.
They said the move was necessary to protect its inpatient and community services, including Hospice@Home.
However, opponents say they should have been given more than two weeks to come to terms with the decision.
One of the issues raised is the recent refurbishment of offices and a spiritual area of the hospice. Opponents said the money should have been spent on day hospice services instead.
One supporter who contacted The Argus said: “We would have liked to have been given the chance to see what we could do to help.”
Hospice bosses insist the refurbishment of the inpatient and spiritual area was carried out following a grant of almost £500,000 from the Department of Health that could not be used for anything else.
The decision to invest in extending the building was to enable the hospice to have the capacity to develop the Hospice@Home service and care agency.
There have also been calls for a change in the hospice’s management structure.
Head of fundraising Robert Griffiths said: “Current day hospice patients will continue to be offered symptom control, psychological, social and spiritual care by the hospice as needed after the closure.”'
'Growing anger at The Martlets day hospice closure
QUESTIONS have been raised over a decision to suddenly close a day hospice.
Patients, staff and volunteers at The Martlets Hospice in Hove have contacted The Argus with concerns about how the closure was handled and calling for the service to be kept on.
Hospice bosses announced earlier this month that the day hospice would close on October 26, saving it around £190,000 over the next 12 months.
They said the move was necessary to protect its inpatient and community services, including Hospice@Home.
However, opponents say they should have been given more than two weeks to come to terms with the decision.
One of the issues raised is the recent refurbishment of offices and a spiritual area of the hospice. Opponents said the money should have been spent on day hospice services instead.
One supporter who contacted The Argus said: “We would have liked to have been given the chance to see what we could do to help.”
Hospice bosses insist the refurbishment of the inpatient and spiritual area was carried out following a grant of almost £500,000 from the Department of Health that could not be used for anything else.
The decision to invest in extending the building was to enable the hospice to have the capacity to develop the Hospice@Home service and care agency.
There have also been calls for a change in the hospice’s management structure.
Head of fundraising Robert Griffiths said: “Current day hospice patients will continue to be offered symptom control, psychological, social and spiritual care by the hospice as needed after the closure.”'