MP fears permanent closure of hospice

The inpatient service at Marie Curie Hospice in Woolton closed last July

An MP is "concerned about the future" of a hospice in Liverpool after she said a meeting with charity bosses gave her no assurances the inpatient unit would reopen.

The 26-bed Marie Curie Hospice in Woolton closed last July citing specialised nursing staff shortages.

Maria Eagle, the Labour member for Garston, met earlier with Marie Curie CEO, Matthew Reed about the future of the hospice on Speke Road.

In a statement the charity said no decision had been made about the long-term future of the Woolton unit and it remained "committed to providing the best possible support to the people of Liverpool".

The charity has continued to run the hospice's outpatients services.

Ms Eagle told BBC Radio Merseyside the charity told her it was "considering all options when it comes to the Woolton Hospice and that includes not reopening the inpatient services".

"So I am now concerned about the future of that building and services," she said.

In statement a Marie Curie representative said no decision had been made about the long-term future of the inpatient unit and the charity was "continuing to explore" its options.

The charity said it had a "deep commitment to providing more palliative and end of life care to the people of Liverpool, now and in the future", adding there was need for "significant investment in improvements to the condition of the building and in practical adjustments to the clinical environment to meet future patient needs".

The representative said there was also "urgent need for long-term sustainable funding and support" and Marie Curie was committed "to finding a sustainable solution that will allow us to continue serving the people of Liverpool with the compassion and excellence that defines our work".