PRESS RELEASE

April 12th , 2010

Halt hospice cuts

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil has called on the health board to re-think a decision to withdrawing funding for a valued transport service run by Ardgowan Hospice for cancer patients.

Ardgowan Hospice organises volunteer drivers to take cancer patients to their hospital appointments in Glasgow and has been supported by the health board for the last 29 years.

But hospice workers were stunned when they were informed by bosses at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde announced they were to withdraw funding for the service.

The blow comes juast weeks after the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Palliative Care Health Needs Assessment 2010 stated ‘patients found this to be a very welcome support that reduced the added stress that the ambulance transport brought to an already stressful experience’.

Local MSP Duncan McNeil has now written to the chief executive of the health board and the health secretary Nicola Sturgeon askign for the decision to be reviewed.

He said: "These volunteers provide a valued service that eases the burden for people in this very vulnerable time of their life.

"More than 1,000 people a year rely on these drivers, building up bonds with them during a difficult period and finding comfort in their personalised service.

"Unless the hospice is able to find additional funding, patients may have to pay for the service or even rely on ambulance transport.

"I would strongly urge health bosses to re-think this decision, ensure that Ardgowan is given the support it needs and treat both patients and volunteers with the respect they deserve."

ENDS

Motion -

Halt hospice cuts - That the Parliament commends the volunteer drivers who have provided a valued transport service on behalf of Ardgowan Hospice in Inverclyde for the last 29 years, notes that more than 1,000 cancer patients rely on them to attend hospital appointments in Glasgow every year, further notes the findings of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Palliative Care Health Needs Assessment 2010, which states ‘patients found this to be a very welcome support that reduced the added stress that the ambulance transport brought to an already stressful experience’, and calls on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to review its decision to withdraw funding for this service and ensure Ardgowan and its volunteers are given the support they need.