Queenscourt Hospice announces bed closures as financial crisis worsens
Plus: Every candidate standing in Sefton Council's local election next month
Hello and welcome to The Southport Lead.
Nothing says there’s an election coming like a party leader visiting town and this week it was Reform UK’s Nigel Farage who came to Southport. Farage posed for photographs at Adventure Coast Theme Park (formerly Pleasureland) as part of a whistle-stop tour which also took in Formby and Wigan. Huge credit to Ben Haslam from The Liverpool Echo for stopping Farage to question him about his comments in 2024 about the Southport attack which preceeded riots in the town - the answer was unsurprisingly dismissive. Lib Dem councillor Mike Sammon is among those who saw the disorder happen by his own home and he posted: “In my view, Farage inflamed tensions that led to the riots. His visit to Southport today is shameful.”
The deadline for nominations for the local elections has now passed and you can find a list of candidates for every ward at the bottom of this newsletter. Two of those named by Reform UK - one in Southport and one in Bootle - have since withdrawn but remain on the lists published by Sefton Council.
Away from elections, today’s main story looks away from politics as the financial crisis worsens at Queenscourt Hospice. Beds are now being closed and new pleas are issued to help plug the shortfall amid warnings the much needed facility could close entirely if more money is not found.
Southport briefing
🍝 An Ainsdale restaurant has launched a new bid to keep its outdoor serving hatch. The extra facility was installed outside Dolce Vita to enable outdoor dining and to provide additional storage space and is described by the business as essential for its viability. However, it was realised after installation that the structure needed planning permission and despite support from residents and MP Bill Esterson, the application was rejected by Sefton Council on the grounds of harming the appearance and character of the area and an appeal was then dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate. The new application includes a time limit and a report submitted with it states: “This application is for the installed facility but restricted to a temporary permission for 2 years as it is vital to the viability of the restaurant and this time period will give the applicant time to explore other options. It is essential that support is given to hospitality businesses in these difficult times.” It adds: “The village has changed form a local retail centre to one predominantly of bars and restaurants, with this being the longest standing restaurant business and one the people of Ainsdale have clearly demonstrated they are keen to support and retain.”
🛏️ A town centre unit which has seen a succession of bars come and go in recent years may be converted into housing. A planning application has been submitted requesting permission to turn the ground floor of 1 Bath Street into a studio apartment and describes the change as providing accommodation for “young professionals looking for a home in the local area”. Once home to The Brass Pig restaurant, the unit is located next to the former Leo’s bar which is currently undergoing a major restoration project. Among the previous bars to occupy it are Bar 1, Gigi’s, Nolls and No.1 Bar.The application states: “Although this is a residential unit in a primarily commercial area, the proposal is not in prime position for a commercial premises, hence why it has not worked long term for any previous businesses”
📢 Former Southport MP Damien Moore has finally announced his long-rumoured defection to Reform and will stand as a candidate for Westminster City Council. The former Conservative was twice elected as Southport MP before losing his seat in 2024 and since then has been working for lobbying firm Fullbrook Strategies. His long awaited announcement was greeted positively by fellow Reform member and former MP Nadine Dorries, who welcomed him to the party and described him as a “great man”.
Queenscourt Hospice announces bed closures as financial crisis worsens
By Jamie Lopez
Queenscourt Hospice will close half of its beds among other service cuts as it faces a financial crisis.
The service is only part-funded by the NHS and relies on fundraising for upwards of two-thirds of its income and leaders say it has become unsustainable. Now, cuts are being made amid warnings of a potential closure within two years which would see all jobs lost and its work returned to already overstretched local NHS services.
Just weeks after issuing a plea for support amid an annual £2m funding deficit, Queenscourt announced this week that it will reduce its inpatient ward from ten beds to five. In addition, it will also reduce some of its wider core clinical services including Queenscourt at Home Shifts and Outpatient Therapy Services in addition to Housekeeping and Catering Services.
Dr Clare Finnegan, Executive Medical Director, said: “Queenscourt has been operating with an annual deficit of approximately £2 million for the past two years, and we face a similar shortfall for 2026/27. We have been drawing on our reserves to ensure we can continue to sustain our current services whilst we have been liaising with the Integrated Care Boards to obtain further funding.
“However we have been advised that we will not receive this level of funding until 2029, and if we do not take measures to cut our costs, Queenscourt will be forced to close.”
“This is not an outcome the charity is willing to accept, and we must now take urgent action if Queenscourt is to survive.”
Last year just 24% of Queenscourt’s funding came from the NHS, with the hospice relying on short-term grants, fundraising and personal donations to meet the remaining cost of its services.
Leaders cited higher salaries, a National Insurance increase and energy bills among the causes of pressure on its budget. Meanwhile, its accounts show that a 80% fall in legacy donations - money given in wills - resulted in £1m less income in 2024/25 than the previous year.
Queenscourt says it continues to hold ‘proactive discussions’ with the Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) of Lancashire and South Cumbria and Cheshire and Merseyside, the organisations which provide Queenscourt with 24% of its annual core costs, with the aim of increasing this contribution to 35-40%. However, they warn it is looking unlikely that Queenscourt will receive this level of funding until at least 2029 and the hospice simply cannot sustain its current services until that time.
In a statement to The Southport Lead, a spokesperson for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside and NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria said: “We are concerned about the financial pressures highlighted by Queenscourt Hospice and are currently working closely with the hospice leadership team to fully understand the impact that the Hospice’s financial position could have on palliative and end of life care services for our local populations.
