'Future still uncertain' for Cambridge hospice despite campaign triumph
Arthur Rank Hospice has raised enough money to save nine beds for the next year
A mother believes the news that nine beds at a Cambridge hospice have been saved doesn't guarantee a certain future for the service.
Arthur Rank Hospice (ARH) has raised enough money to keep these beds open for the next year, which were at risk of NHS funding cuts, following an extensive community-led campaign.
"It is only a temporary reprieve; I think the future is still very uncertain for Arthur Rank in terms of those beds," Lisa Smart said.
"As somebody who's experienced the brilliance of their service, it's just heartbreaking to hear."
Lisa's daughter Emily received care from ARH towards the end of her life after being diagnosed with a rare spinal cord tumour.
In November, Lisa travelled to Westminster alongside fellow campaigners and Cambridgeshire's Liberal Democrat MPs Pippa Heylings, Charlotte Cane and Ian Sollom to hand in a petition to Downing Street calling for funding cuts to be scrapped.
"I think anyone who has faced a terminal diagnosis, be that the individual or the family, will understand that the services that hospices provide are absolutely incredible," Lisa said.
Sharon Allen, CEO of the ARH Charity, previously warned that jobs at ARH would be at risk if the money wasn't found, but stressed the level of service towards those who need their care won't be affected.
She said the removal of funding has been worrying, but is grateful for the support received.
"We continue to be grateful to those who have rallied around us and committed to financial support for the next 12 months whilst we seek stable funding options," Ms Allen said.
"Local people deserve the outstanding care our colleagues can offer, and we are grateful that, for now, we are in a position where beds are not reduced."
Ms Allen said ARH must now find "long-term, sustainable funding for hospice care" nationally.
"We do not want to be in this same position in a years’ time," she added.
"The future is still uncertain, and the ending of this service would, without doubt, have huge implications for our local community and must be protected at all costs.”
Meeting with the minister
Ms Heylings, Ms Cane and Mr Sollom are due to meet the Minister of State for Social Care and representatives of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board (ICB) today on hospice care.
The group will present evidence showing the high demand for end-of-life care in the region and call on the ICB to commit to long-term commissioning for services provided by ARH.
Lisa agrees with the idea of a long-term funding plan that allows ARH to move on, and wonders why there has not been enough financial support for hospices in other parts of the country.
"I think it's through almost naivety and those who make the decisions who perhaps haven't had the experience of hospice care, aren't they the lucky ones because if you have, you know how vital that service is," she said.
Trust 'delighted' by campaign
Eight years ago, the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (CUH) commissioned ARH to provide nine additional beds for end-of-life care for its patients as part of a pilot scheme.
But since then, the Trust said these beds are no longer value for money.
“The very difficult decision to end the ARH contract was among a number of cost-saving measures, including redundancies, taken across the Trust in order to maintain core services within a significantly reduced budget," a CUH spokesperson said.
“We are delighted the fundraising campaign has raised enough money to keep the nine beds open at Arthur Rank Hospice for another 12 months.
"This is testament to the importance of Arthur Rank Hospice in our local community."
CUH said it's planning to open an end-of-life care ward to bring patients from across the hospital into one dedicated facility.
A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care has previously said the Government has made "the biggest investment in a generation - £100 million – to improve hospice facilities"
The Government claim it's also committed £80m to children and young people's hospices within a three-year period.
“We recognise there is more to do, and we are exploring how we can improve the access, quality and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan," the spokesperson added.