Boost for St Mary's Hospice

People nearing the end of their lives in south Cumbria will benefit from major refurbishments of hospice facilities, thanks to a £263,317 Department of Health grant, Care Services Minister Phil Hope announced today.

St Mary’s is one of 123 hospices across the country to be awarded part of a £40 million fund to improve care for patients and families by enhancing and equipping hospices to give better quality care, more dignity and more privacy to their patients.

The funding was committed as part of the Department of Health’s End of Life Care Strategy to provide high quality care for all adults approaching the end of their life, launched in July 2008. The projects will begin in April 2010 and will be completed by 31 March 2011.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope said, “Whether it’s being able to take time out in the garden or having a hoist that enables you to move with more dignity, the physical environment directly impacts on people’s care.

We know that improving the caring environment is something that is very important to people. Today I am delighted to be able to make that a reality in south Cumbria."

David Praill, Help the Hospices Chief Executive, said, “Local hospices play a central role in the delivery of end of life care and we warmly welcome these new funds.

Although hospice care is more than just a building – with many services being provided in people’s homes – the building itself gives hospice care an important physical presence in the community.

This grant will make a huge difference to the quality of hospice environments. The funds will enhance living spaces and equip hospices with some practical tools to meet the wide ranging needs of people with life limiting and terminal illness and their friends and family."

To find out more about the Government’s end of life care strategy, visit http://www.endoflifecare.nhs.uk/eolc/

Help the Hospices is the leading charity supporting hospice care throughout the UK. It represents and supports its 213 hospice members in their vital work on the front line of caring for people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses.