MP makes no promises after minister meeting to save Cambridgeshire hospice
It's a week since nine beds at risk of funding cuts were officially saved
A Cambridgeshire MP has said he's not making any promises around future funding for a local hospice.
Ian Sollom and the county's fellow Liberal Democrat MPs Charlotte Cane and Pippa Heylings have met with health and social care minister Stephen Kinnock MP and the local integrated care board's (ICB) CEO, Jan Thomas.
Their aim was to decide on a long-term funding strategy for Arthur Rank Hospice, which seven days ago, confirmed it raised enough money to keep nine of its beds open for another year.
"I'm not going to sit here and say we've got a massive breakthrough, but I think what we have got is the ICB to acknowledge that this needs to be looked at," Mr Sollom said.
'Positives' taken from meeting
Arthur Rank managed to reach its £829,000 target with under three months to spare until its fundraising deadline, despite NHS funding cuts.
The nine beds were funded by the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which has said they were no longer value for money, while the ICB funds the 12 other beds at the Arthur Rank site.
After the meeting. the Liberal Democrats say the ICB has agreed to use the 12-month reprieve to come to an agreement between themselves and Arthur Rank Hospice on longer-term funding.
"I think there were positives; we can talk occupancy rates and delivery, but we need to actually see where the system's heading and how many beds do we need," Mr Sollom said.
"In this 12-month window, we've got to show there is that delivery need and I think we've got a commitment to that from the ICB."
'Next 12 months are critical'
Mr Sollom, Ms Cane and Ms Heylings have asked the ICB to show how end-of-life care can be secured through both at the hospice and at home, in a bid to keep as many patients out of hospital as possible.
The MPs also called on Mr Kinnock to put in place long term funding for palliative and end-of-life care across all hospices.
“We are calling on the ICB to carry out an in-depth, evidence-led assessment of need across our area and keep an open mind to the option of funding the additional hospice beds," a joint statement from the MPs said.
“The next 12 months are critical for Arthur Rank Hospice and serious negotiations between the ICB and the hospice must now take place.
"The hospice must be given the stability it needs to continue its incredible work.”
Another meeting with the MPs, the Government and the ICB to look over progress with the funding plan is due to take place in around two months' time.
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."