Hospices’ heavy VAT burden is removed

Chancellor announces move in autumn statement

BOROUGH hospices have welcomed the tax break announced by George Osborne in his recent autumn statement.

Charitable hospices across the UK will now receive a rebate of more than £4million to cover VAT costs.

For years hospices have paid VAT on many of their supplies, unlike similar services run by the NHS, but from April they will be able to claim a refund.

Announcing his final statement before the general election, chancellor Mr Osborne said: “Our hospice charities also make an enormous contribution to our communities.

“They have long been subject to unfair rules that force them to pay VAT, when the NHS does

The Uxbridge Gazette Series not. I am today refunding the VAT that these hospice charities incur.”

Harlington Hospice, in St Peter’s Way, Harlington, provides services for people at the end of their lives and supports families suffering from bereavement and loss.

Its Hospice at Home service provides nursing care for up to 150 families each year and a specialised lymphoedema therapy service helps well over 100 people each year to manage their condition.

It also runs the Reg Hopkins Centre, which opened in 2012 and enables the charity to provide services to patients and their families at the day centre.

Steve Curry, Harlington Hospice chief officer, said: “We are very pleased with the announcement of George Osborne’s planned tax break for

It is also the chosen charity of the Mayor of Hillingdon, Catherine Dann, during her year of office.

The charity has to raise £1.5million every year to ensure that vital services are maintained, but it is not directly affected by the tax break.

Chief executive Helen Elliott said: “Here at MSH our situation is slightly different in that we are an NHS hospice supported by an independent charity.

“This means that we have not had to pay VAT on many of our supplies. We are happy that the chancellor has acted to close the VAT gap faced by charitable hospices as all hospice charities make an enormous contribution to local communities.

“We applaud the campaign led by Hospice UK to ensure this rebate has been implemented.” A DESPERATE plea for volunteers has been heard by generous people willing to give up their time to ensure an RNLI fundraising group stays afloat.

Thanks to an appeal run in the Gazette and online at getwestlondon. co.uk in November, 20 people have come forward to help get the Uxbridge RNLI group back on track.

The RNLI branch has been fundraising across the south of the borough for more than half a century but many of the volunteers, now in their 80s and 90s, are unable to continue volunteering for the lifesaving charity.

The branch’s friends at the Harrow RNLI group made a plea for new blood and Harrow chairman Terry Wigington has since sent the names of 11 adults and nine students from Uxbridge College to the RNLI headquarters.

Mr Wigington has also paid his thanks to the management at The Ascott pub, in Field End Road, Eastcote, who hosted the final Harrow RNLI souvenir fair of the year on December 14.

He said: “It was a very worthwhile event and we look forward to a return visit in the future.”

The next event for Harrow RNLI is at Manor Farm Hall car park in St Martin’s Approach, Ruislip, on Saturday, January 31 from 10am until 1.30pm.