Queenscourt Hospice considers service cuts as it faces immediate funding crisis
Leaders have launched Keep Queenscourt in Service Campaign with a £2m shortfall again expected
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Southport Lead.
Much of the focus in recent newsletters has been on Southport Hospital and the multi-million pound plan to bring Children’s A&E services back to the town.
Today, we look a little further down the road to its neighbour Queenscourt Hospice, where leaders have warned there is an immediate financial crisis and that services may have to be cut.
To help support Queenscourt during this immediate funding crisis, Queenscourt is urgently asking for donations to be made via queenscourt.org.uk/KeepQueenscourtInService or by calling its Fundraising Team on 01704 517420 to make a donation over the phone.
Southport briefing
🌼 Volunteers from Ainsdale In Bloom have been awarded the King’s Award For Voluntary Service (KAVS). The special accolade was presented by Merseyside Lord Lieutenant Peter Oliver OBE on behalf of King Charles III at the FPC Financial offices in Ainsdale Village. Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life. Under the leadership of Brenda Porter, the group has helped to transform Ainsdale in recent years, bringing real civic pride and attracting new local businesses to invest and open. Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside Peter Oliver OBE said: “Ainsdale in Bloom received their King’s Award for Voluntary Service, on a beautiful spring day with ample evidence of their beautiful planters. But Ainsdale in Bloom does much more than planting beautiful flowers which lift people’s spirits; they work with local institutions specialising in mental health and those with SEND, helping everyone to flourish and value living in Ainsdale. This small group of 12 volunteers has worked for ten years to reach their current position and this award is truly deserved. Many congratulations to Brenda Porter and all of the volunteers and the organisations who were here who have helped them along the way.”
🎨 Sefton Council has been awarded £475k funding from Arts Council England towards the growth of the cultural sector over the next two years. The local authority was sucessful in an application for Place Partnership funding and the money will be used to support Southport’s Elegantly Eccentric programme which began with Lightport and will include Cristal Palace, Big Top and Books Alive. The council says the momentum of these major cultural events will be ‘continued through an aspirational programme developed by local cultural partners’ throughout 2027. Jennifer Cleary, Director, North West, Arts Council England, said: “We’re delighted to support Southport through our Place Partnership programme, recognising the scale and strength of the town’s cultural ambition. This investment will help build on the fantastic work already underway, bringing partners together to create more opportunities for people to take part in high-quality cultural activity on their doorsteps.”
🚓 A man in his 50s was punched and stabbed in his hand in Southport town centre on Friday night. Another man, 49, has been arrested on suspicion of wounding and police are continuing to appeal for information. Officers were called to the scene, where Lord Street meets Waverley Street, at around 7.30pm and the victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Detective Inspector Edward Barr said: “The victim in this incident has been left distressed and with a serious injury to his hand as a result of the offender’s actions, and is getting the care he needs in hospital. I know the Southport community too will be shocked and saddened to hear a serious assault has taken place on Lord Street. At the time of this incident, it would have been busy with people enjoying their Friday night in the many bars and restaurants along the street – they should be able to enjoy their Friday night without having to witness an attack such as this. Our enquiries are already progressing well, and we appeal to anyone who was on Lord Street at around 7.30pm on Friday and might have seen any part of this incident to get in touch. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Merseyside Police social media desk @MerPolCC on X and Facebook quoting reference 26000224348. You can also report online, call 101, or contact Crimstoppers anonymously.
Queenscourt Hospice considers service cuts as it faces immediate funding crisis
By Jamie Lopez
Queenscourt Hospice could be forced to cut services as bosses warn it faces the most challenging time in its history.
The much-needed facility receives only around a quarter of its core costs through the NHS with the rest entirely reliant on fundraising. It has regularly faced an annual deficit and this has reached almost £2m last year, contributed to by an 80% fall in legacy donations.
These are donations from wills and are therefore seen as entirely unpredictable in terms of budgeting but play a significant role in the hospice’s finances. In 2023/24, legacy donations totalled £1.1m but this dropped to £196k the following year.
Hospice leaders pointed to factors including rising salaries, National Insurance and energy bills which have added cost pressures and left Queenscourt in an “untenable” financial position.
The government says it has increased hospice funding since coming to power and is working on a fairer framework for long-term settlements but Queenscourt leaders say that its situation is already perilous and have launched a Keep Queenscourt in Service Campaign in a bid to raise much needed funds.
Dr Clare Finnegan, Executive Medical Director said: “Queenscourt is working tirelessly with our hospice collaboratives and NHS Integrated Care Boards to secure fairer, more sustainable funding - the kind that would finally bring us closer to the national average of between 35–40% contribution towards hospice costs. This process takes time, and time is something that our financial position does not afford us.
“Right now, our situation is unsustainable, and we are being forced to consider the possibility of reducing vital services. This is a step we never imagined we might have to contemplate”.
The hospice opened its doors 35 years ago and took its name from a house which was donated to the charity when it first fundraising for the building. The property was on Queens Road and because it would have been an inappropriate building for a hospice the executors agreed that it be sold and a condition of this was that the name would be kept for the new building, which would open off Town Lane.
Contrary to what some believe, its treatments range far beyond end-of-life care, with palliative support comprising a minority of its work across its In-Patient Unit, Queenscourt Connect, and Queenscourt at Home services.
All of this helps to significantly ease pressure on other NHS services and across 2024-25, the average stay for inpatients was 10 days, while hospice staff visited more than 650 patients in hospital and 1,300 patients in the community. The added to giving bereavement support for 700 people and providing clinical placements for 47 medical students and check-in training for 120 carers.
All of this adds up though, with a team of more than 100 professional staff and daily running costs which reached almost £15,000 per day last year.
