Cheshire Independent Issue 199

MACCLESFIELD •TYTHERINGTON •BOLLINGTON ALDERLEYEDGE •PRESTBURY •WILMSLOW •HANDFORTH •POYNTON •BRAMHALL •DISLEY •ALSAGER •BIDDULPH •CONGLETON •SANDBACH ISSUE198 Independent FREE CHESHIRE FREE YOUR LOCAL GOOD NEWS-PAPER FOLLOWUSONTWITTER: @CheshireIndy www.independentnewspapers.co.uk Looking for Flooring Inspiration? Letushelpyou find theperfect flooring foryour home.Withgreatadvice,home styling,measureand planning service,plusquality fittingof topbrandsand designs, youwillbegladyoudid . Visitour showroom:Tuesday toSaturday orcall 01260224445 foraprivateappointment ThornycroftFarm,PexhillRoad, Siddington,CheshireSK119JN ● Modern,Traditional&LuxuryCarpets ● NaturalWoodFlooring ● LaminateFlooring ● StairRunners&Rods ● LuxuryVinylTiles ● BespokeRugs&Runners Help our hospices! MPs call for vital funding increase A GROUP of Cheshire MPshavewritten to the government calling for morevital funding fortwo localhospices. Theywant ameetingwith social careministerStephen Kinnockandhaveurgedhim tovisitEastCheshireHospice inMacclesfieldandStLuke’s inWinsford tosee forhimself the important services they areproviding. TheMPswant to discuss ‘much-needed’ capital fund- ing for both hospices with theminister. In a letter to him calling for the meeting, they say: “StLuke’s andEastChesh- ireHospices provide invalu- able care to our community but receive less than 18 per cent of their funding from thegovernment.” The letterwas penned by CongletonMPSarahRussell, whohasacceptedan invitation to be a voluntary vice presi- dentofEastCheshireHospice. Itwas also signed byMac- clesfieldMPTimRoca,MP for CreweandNantwichConnor NaismithandMidCheshire’s AndrewCooper. Mr Roca said: “With the upcomingLeightonHospital rebuild inCrewe,wewant to ensure St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice can be part of the project, creating amodern, fit-for-purpose facility. “EastCheshireHospice is also leading innovativework inpreventinghospitaladmis- sions, andwewant to secure support for itsvitalservices. “We’ve invited theminister tovisitbothhospicesand see first-handthe incrediblework theydo.Ourhospicesdeserve the funding to continue pro- viding compassionate care to thosewhoneed itmost.” Intheir lettertheMPspoint outthatStLuke’sonlyhasten beds inanopenwardand the hospice receives just 14 per centof is funding fromthegov- ernment.Theysay there isno space for it toexpand further on itsexistingsite. They point out ithas been a long-time aspiration of Cashplea:EastCheshireHospicedeservesmorebackingsayMPs St Luke’s management for thehospice to be part of the LeightonHospital rebuild. And theyadd: “Itwouldbe economically efficient for the hospice to be incorporated as part of the hospital pro- gramme using the monies that thehospicehas already set aside alongside some money from our new capi- talallocation.” TheMPs also stressEast Cheshirehas capital funding needs, telling theminister: “Thehospice isdoing a lot of innovativework on avoiding hospitaladmissions. “However, due to histori- calanomalies, likeStLuke’s, it receives relatively little money from the integrated careboard.” MidCheshireMPAndrew Cooper said: “the recent announcement of £100mil- lion that the government is providing for hospices is verywelcome. “St Luke’s and East Cheshirehospices aremuch valued in our communities, but both receive less than 18 percentof their funding from thegovernment. “Hospice fundingneeds to be fair and consistent across the country.End of life care shouldnotdependon thegen- erosityof individuals.”