Sue Ryder may have to close its hospices in cash crisis
CHARITY Sue ryder warned it may have to close its 11 hospices and rehabilitation centres after taking a huge hit from the crisis.
it launched an extraordinary appeal to save its endof-life services for thousands of families after it was forced to shut its 450 shops and cancel fundraising events.
The charity said it had months before it will have to close its hospices and its ‘hospice at home’ services across the country. it came as 26 MPs from all parties wrote to Boris Johnson to demand an ‘emergency hardship fund to help the silent army of
‘Delivering to the most vulnerable’
life- savers’ working in struggling charities.
led by former Tory leader Sir iain Duncan Smith and former labour deputy leader Dame Margaret Beckett, the MPs said: ‘ They provide the infrastructure of voluntary effort to support the most vulnerable, facing greater hardship at this time.
‘isolated households, those with mental health problems, people experiencing domestic violence, child abuse, loneliness and the extra stress of family dysfunction.
‘They are delivering medicines and food to the most vulnerable and, in the case of adult and children’s hospices, also taking the pressure off our hard-pressed NhS and social care sectors or stemming the flow of people who would otherwise need more intense medical care and more.’ Before the crisis, statutory funding covered approximately only one- third of the costs of the end-of-life care.
That gap was bridged with fundraising efforts and income from its 450 shops nationwide.
Ministers pledged help for charities two weeks ago – but nothing has been forthcoming. last week St John ambulance revealed it could run out of money. and yesterday Sue ryder said it had a funding gap of £12million over the next three months – warning that without immediate financial support, its critical end-of-life care will cease.
chief executive heidi Travis said: ‘We have been calling on the Government to support us but no funding has materialised. The country will lose its hospices when they are needed most. This is a plea and no less, we cannot wait any longer. We are a critical front-line support service yet we are on the brink of closure.
‘We are asking the public to give whatever you can to help us to help those who need it most.’
Sue ryder runs four neurological rehabilitation centres and seven hospices across the UK. it also provides a bereavement service for 25,000 people a month.
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