Foyle Hospice funding concerns raised

Foyle SDLP MLA Pl Callaghan made the call during a debate on funding levels at Stormont.

The Londonderry politician claimed there was a discrepancy in funding provided to the Foyle Hospice in comparison to similar hospices in other parts of NI.

Mr McGimpsey said he recognised the valuable contribution the Foyle Hospice makes providing palliative care to people in Londonderry.

The Minister said the Department of Health provides 300,000 to the Foyle Hospice during the debate on a motion proposing that he fund hospice services here in line with the funding provided by the Scottish Government.

Mr Callaghan praised the local facility during the debate recalling, in particular, the care provided during the recent passing of a friend.

He said: "I was in the Foyle Hospice less than two years ago as a result of the passing of a very dear friend of mine and of many other people in Derry.

"Once again, I saw the incredible capacity of people working in that hospice - as, I am sure, is reflected in many others - in providing pastoral support, medical and nursing care and treatment and, of course, emotional and

physical support, not only to the people who are in the hospice at any given moment but to their families.

"It is important that we recognise the wider assurance that the hospice movement provides to the whole community. It is there for us when we or our loved ones need it. That is important to note."

Mr Callaghan added: "It is incumbent on me to point out that there appears to be a legacy issue for the Foyle Hospice that comes from the health system prior to the reorganisation under RPA.

"In the 2009 figures, which were made available to the Committee, there appears, at first glance, to be quite a marked discrepancy between the funding for the Foyle Hospice and other hospices with a comparable purpose, whatever about their throughput," said Mr Callaghan.

He went on, however, to applaud a 100,000 increase in funding for the Foyle Hospice this year.

"I am aware that, this year, the Department increased the funding provided to the Foyle Hospice by 100,000, and I know that people involved in the Foyle Hospice are tremendously appreciative to the Minister and the Department for that boost.

"However, it is important that consistency and transparency are absolutely key as we go forward, and that if we are looking towards a system whereby we will, hopefully, move to provide statutory funding on a par with that provided under the Scottish scheme, that funding is provided across the board here.

"That uplift across the board is important so that everybody involved with the hospice movement and those who use it have confidence that all hospices are being fairly treated," the local MLA stated.

Mr McGimpsey said that he would continue to support and fund hospice services across Northern Ireland but pointed out that in Scotland the Government provides 25 per cent of inpatient costs only whilst here it provides 20 per cent of total costs - inpatient costs and the costs of care provided to children in their homes.

He said: "I want to put on record how valuable the contribution the hospices make to providing palliative care services for people in Northern Ireland.

"In Northern Ireland, the health service provides a total of over 5.5million in funding to all hospices across Northern Ireland including over 2 million to the NI Hospice, almost 1million to the Southern Hospice, almost 300,000 to Foyle and over 1.6million to Marie Curie."

Turning to funding for children's hospice services, the Minister said had shown a history of strong financial and personal support for their work.

He continued: "Indeed I have stepped in to provide additional funding when this has been requested. I have been the first Minister to secure ongoing funding for the Children's Hospice including; a recurrent grant of 210,000 in 2008 and, earlier this year, a further 245,000. This is in addition to funding from the Board and Trusts which brings the total funding to almost 600,000.

"It was at the request of the Chief Executive of the Children's Hospice last August that I made the additional 245,000 funding available. These extra monies brings their level of funding up to around 20 per cent of their total costs. This figure compares to 15 per cent of total costs for children's hospice in England."

Concluding the Minister said that while children's hospice services in Scotland are funded at a level of 25 per cent, that is only 25 per cent of the cost of inpatient services and does not include the cost of providing care in the child's home.

He said: "Care in a child's home is a very significant part of palliative care services for children in Northern Ireland. Therefore we are not comparing like with like because in Northern Ireland we fund a broader range of services than in Scotland.

"We actually fund 20 per cent of all care delivered in the hospice itself, as well as 20 per cent of all care provided in a child's home – this is not the range of services that are provided in Scotland.

"I have also invested in services for children with complex needs. Over the past three years I have allocated an additional 8million to support these children through support nursing services, therapy provision and other essential care and support."