Leicestershire Hospice gets NHS funding boost

LOROS Hospice has announced that more beds are to reopen on its inpatient ward thanks to additional funding from the NHS.

Last summer, rising costs and a growing deficit forced the charity to cut some of its services for patients and families including reducing its ward beds down from 31 to 18. In November short term winter pressures funding, plus the generous support of the local community, enabled four beds to reopen on a temporary basis. Now these beds, plus two more, have been confirmed as permanent.

Dr Luke Feathers, Medical Director at LOROS Hospice, said: “We are delighted to confirm that the extra beds will remain open to provide the specialist palliative and end of life care that our communities need. We are so pleased that the ICB have understood the importance of our role and recognised the impact of our care.

“We’d also like to thank our wonderful community who have generously donated and supported us throughout, and ask them to continue to do so.”

The beds have enabled people like Richard Holden, who was admitted to the LOROS ward in November, to have their symptoms managed so effectively they could return home.

Linda, Richard’s wife said: “Richard was in excruciating pain when he was transferred to LOROS. Had he not secured a bed we really don’t know what could have been done with the severe pain and he would have continued a very quick decline in his health. As it was the pain was so bad he just wanted to die.

“One day in LOROS started his journey back, the doctors checking very closely his reaction to the medication and staff reporting quickly with pain levels. He is now comfortable thanks to LOROS.”

The additional investment will support bed provision and strengthen LOROS’s role in neighbourhood models of care, recognising the vital part LOROS plays in delivering community-based end-of-life and palliative care.

Dr Nil Sanganee, Chief Medical Officer at Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and Northamptonshire Integrated Care Boards, said:

“We are really pleased to be able to provide additional funding to support the reopening of more inpatient beds at LOROS. The hospice provides exceptional care for people and their families across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and plays a vital role in ensuring people receive compassionate, specialist support at the end of life.

“This investment will help strengthen inpatient capacity at LOROS while also supporting the development of our neighbourhood model of care, recognising the important role the hospice plays in working alongside community services to care for people closer to home.

“We value the partnership we have with LOROS and look forward to continuing to work together to ensure people across our communities receive the high-quality palliative and end of life care they need.”

Dr Luke adds: “This increase in beds is a real investment in the hospice - effectively doubling the number funded by the NHS on last year. It’s a vote of confidence for LOROS and the importance of getting end of life care right for our communities. We’d like to thank our ICB commissioners for understanding this.”

However, an ageing population means the demand for specialist care is ever increasing, and reopening the remaining 7 beds on the LOROS inpatient ward would allow many more patients to get the help they need, says the hospice.

“We currently cannot open all 31 of our beds, not because the demand isn’t there, but because there isn’t sufficient funding to allow us to do it. People needing hospice support do not have time to wait.”

The hospice is inviting its community to show their support for the charity by making a donation.

“Our donors have been brilliant in helping us. Now we’re asking them again to help make this a reality because at any point it could be your friend, relative or loved one who needs our specialised care and cannot wait.”

With a recent report by Marie Curie suggesting that 1 in 3 people are dying without the palliative care they need, LOROS is calling for greater government investment in the hospice sector.

“Too many people are not getting the support they need whilst 2 in 5 hospices are also making cuts. With an ageing population in Leicestershire and Rutland, plus assisted dying potentially on the horizon, it’s very important that end of life care is better funded by government.”