Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSRecession-hit hospice forced to close
A 30-year-old hospice in Bristol is to close its doors due to the recession.
St Peter’s Hospice in Bristol is to close its Knowle site as a result of a £500,000 shortfall in the charity’s revenue due to the recession.
Founded 30 years ago, the charity provides specialist palliative care in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire through its hospices at Knowle and Brentry, and through community nurse specialists and hospice at home teams.
The charity’s chief executive, Sandie Foxall-Smith, said: ‘With our legacy and investment income significantly reduced, we are being forced to take this tremendously difficult decision.’
‘Knowle Hospice is an old building that requires significant expenditure to bring it up to a standard suitable to meet the care of our patients,’ she said.
‘By moving our inpatient beds and working from one site in Brentry, we will make a saving of over £500,000 per year in our overall running costs while still delivering the same level of care to the people of Bristol. Our nurse specialists working in South Bristol will continue to be based in the area,’ she added.
The Knowle Hospice will close by the end of the year.
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Readers' comments (1)
Anonymous | 4-Nov-2009 9:03 pm
I had the privelidge of working with two of the nurses from st peters when my aunt was at the end of life and was rapidly discharged home as this was her wish
I found the nurse very supportive and extremely knowledgeable and gave excellent care to my aunt and family
I feel that they will be sorely missed and i am devastasted that this service may be in jeopardy to other families who may need their support
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