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Hospice chiefs in Cheshire have warned they face future cutbacks if they can’t reverse a dramatic drop in donations.
St Luke’s Hospice, which treats patients from Nantwich, Crewe, Audlem, and Alsager, could see a £200,000 shortfall this year.
Speaking to Nantwichnews, director of the hospice Andrea Ladeira (pictured, right) issued a plea to donors.
Although not in danger of closing, she said the hospice will be forced to look at costs and plan for a large drop in funding.
The hospice, which has to fund 80% of its annual cost with 20% coming from a Government grant, needs to find £6,500 a day to maintain its current services.
As well as a 10-bed in-care centre at its Winsford base, the hospice provides a range of services to patients and their families all over South and mid Cheshire.
This includes palliative care, going into care homes and hospitals, an eduction unit, and support for people suffering life threatening illnesses and their families and friends who act as carers.
But if the current drop in donations continues, Andrea warned it could lead to a cut in what it can offer.
She said: “If it doesn’t change and there is a longer term drop we will have to look at things.
“We are a community service, if we didn’t tell people there was a problem and then we had to cut services, there would be an outcry. We are just trying to ensure we are here for the future.”
Most of the funds that come in to the hospice are generated by the weekly lottery, around £630,000 each year, with extra money coming in from individual donations of cash or items to shops.
Andrea said they noticed a downturn in 2010, and in 2011 they were helped by one large six-figure anonymous donation from a local benefactor.
“It made a big difference, but these sorts of donations are few and far between,” she added.
“What keeps this place going is lottery members who pay a £1 a week, people who give small amounts regularly, or donate to our shops. Ordinary people who are struggling in the current economy.
“These donations and people holding fund-raising events have dropped dramatically. It’s like someone turned off the tap on January 1.”
The annual Midnight Walk is one of the biggest fundraising events the hospice organises, and the 2012 event next month has 860 registered – a drop from 1,150 at the same period last year.
“It could result in a £125,000 shortfall in that event alone,” added Andrea.
The hospice was first opened 24 years ago by Charles and Diana, and has grown to employ 110 staff and 600 volunteers who do admin jobs and staff shops and help at events.
“These save the hospice £650,000 every year,” said Andrea. “They do an amazing job and we couldn’t run without them.”
But the hospice is facing tough choices of what to cut.
“We don’t intend to cut services, but we may have to put on hold upgrades.
“For example, we need new till systems in our shops, but we may not be able to afford that now. It’s a ‘make do’ from now on.”
To help out, register for the Midnight Walk, or simply donate, visit http://www.stlukes-hospice.co.uk/
(Pic: Hospice nurse Jean Young with director Andrea Ladeira)
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