News Release

12th December 2005

ST GILES HOSPICE

Michael Fabricant today (Monday 12th December) attended the All Party Parliamentary Group for Hospice and Palliative Care following fears that St Giles Hospice - and others - may face a funding shortfall from the NHS. "St Giles Hospice receives around 35% of its budget from NHS grants with the balance being raised from the community" says Michael Fabricant. But in a letter to Michael, Peter Holliday, Group Chief Executive of St Giles Hospice says "There are signs that NHS funding is becoming much tighter and I still have several contracts not as yet agreed for the financial year 2005-06, a situation which has never arisen before. Meanwhile, the burden of regulation becomes ever more severe to the extent that it can compromise the care that we give".

At the Parliamentary Meeting today, Michael Fabricant told attendees which included other MPs, doctors, members of the Hospice movement and patients: "I am very lucky to represent the Lichfield constituency which has the excellent and successful St Giles Hospice which not only cares for the sick and the dying, but also provides specialist help with, among other services, the first ever lymphodoema clinic in the country. This is in marked contrast to other parts of the country which are not so well served.

"It would be unthinkable if any funding for these services were reduced." Michael then pointed out: "In the medium term, hospice care saves the NHS money as it provides a cost-effective and caring way to provide palliative care in the community. It must not be jeopardised."