Hospice campaigners deliver petition to charity

Campaigners from Liverpool travelled to London to deliver a petition to Marie Curie's headquarters

Campaigners trying to secure the future of a Liverpool hospice have travelled to London to deliver a petition to the charity's headquarters.

The 26-bed inpatient unit at Marie Curie in Woolton closed last July due to a shortage in specialised nursing staff.

The petition was delivered ahead of the city council's Adult Health and Social Care Scrutiny committee meeting with representatives from Marie Curie Hospice and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside at Liverpool Town Hall later.

A Marie Curie representative said the charity "remains deeply committed to providing specialist palliative and end of life care and support to the people of Liverpool".

The 26-bed Marie Curie Hospice closed last summer due to staff shortages

Independent councillor Lucy Williams, who previously worked at the hospice, and travelled to London with the group said the inpatient provision in Liverpool was a "vital service" and a petition to save it had been signed by more than 2,000 people.

"It's vital to have a service like this open," she said.

"This unit serves the most vulnerable patients and families at one of the hardest times of their lives."

She said the people making the decision about the future of the hospice "need to listen to the community and the people that know this service".

One of those who travelled to the capital was Chris Lynas-Gaze, whose wife Liz was cared for at the hospice in 2020.

"The Marie Curie Hospice wrapped their arms around her and gave her all the love and care that she needed and got her through those really difficult times," she said.

A representative for Marie Curie North West said: "We do not underestimate the impact that the uncertainty surrounding the future of the inpatient unit has had on bereaved families, those facing the end of life, staff, volunteers, and the local community, and we apologise for that.

"We are working hard with NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) and other NHS partners to resolve the immediate staffing and funding challenges.

"Together, we're exploring how we might meet the need for inpatient beds in Liverpool as soon as possible."