Boost for Charity Which Helps Terminally Ill

COVENTRY Teaching Primary Care Trust is investing an additional pounds 235,056 in Marie Curie nursing services giving terminally ill people the choice to die at home.

NHS trusts across the UK will invest an extra pounds 3.8million in Marie Curie Nursing Services this year, allowing more than 21,500 patients a choice in end of life care.

The NHS has increased its contribution by 34 per cent, from pounds 11million in 2007/08 to pounds 15million in 2008/09.

Before the publication of the government’s End of Life Care Strategy, the Department of Health announced pounds 4.5million for a new Marie Curie Cancer Care Hospice in Solihull. This follows a pounds 10million capital investment from the Department ofHealth last year for development and refurbishment work in Marie Curie hospices in London and Birmingham.

Lord Darzi’s Next Stage Review recognised “end of life care” as a priority for the first time.

Ivan Lewis MP, parliamentary under secretary of state for care services said: “People coming to the end of their life and their loved ones deserve high quality support which puts compassion, dignity and respect at its heart. Marie Curie has an excellenttrack record in providing quality care and is pioneering new ways of working which put the needs of patients and families first.

“I am delighted to announce this significant new funding, which will bring the new state-of-the-art hospice in the West Midlands a step closer and support their innovative Delivering Choice Programme.”

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