Midcheshire Independent Issue 176

FREE YOUR LOCAL GOOD NEWS-PAPER Follow us on Facebook: yourlocalinde ISSUE 176 • MARCH 2025 YOUR LOCAL FREE MID CHESHIRE COVERING NANTWICH, NORTHWICH, WINSFORD, MIDDLEWICH, KNUTSFORD AND SURROUNDING AREAS Innovative work: East Cheshire hospice deserves more cash backing say local MPs A GROUP of Cheshire MPs have written to the government calling for more vital funding for two local hospices. They want a meeting with social care minister Stephen Kinnock and have urged him to visit East Cheshire Hos- pice in Macclesfield and St Luke’s in Winsford to see for himself the important ser- vices they are providing. The MPs want to discuss ‘much-needed’ capital fund- ing for both hospices with the minister. In a letter to him calling for the meeting, they say: “St Luke’s and East Chesh- ire Hospices provide invalu- able care to our community but receive less than 18 per cent of their funding from the government.” The letter was penned by Congleton MP Sarah Rus- sell, who has accepted an invitation to be a voluntary vice president of East Chesh- ire Hospice. It was also signed by Mac- clesfield MP Tim Roca, MP for Crewe and Nantwich Connor Naismith and Mid Cheshire’s Andrew Cooper. Mr Roca said: “With the upcoming Leighton Hospital rebuild in Crewe, we want to ensure St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice can be part of the project, creating a modern, fit-for-purpose facility. “East Cheshire Hospice is also leading innovative work in preventing hospital admis- sions, and we want to secure support for its vital services. “We’ve invited the minis- ter to visit both hospices and see first-hand the incredible work they do. Our hospices deserve the funding to con- tinue providing compassion- ate care to those who need it most.” In their letter the MPs point out that St Luke’s only has ten beds in an open ward and the hospice receives just 14 per cent of is funding from the government. They say there is no space for it to expand further on its exist- ing site. They point out it has been a long-time aspiration of St Luke’s management for the hospice to be part of the Leighton Hospital rebuild. And they add: “It would be economically efficient for the hospice to be incor- porated as part of the hos- pital programme using the monies that the hospice has already set aside alongside some money from our new capital allocation.” The MPs also stress East Cheshire has capital funding needs, telling the minister: “The hospice is doing a lot of innovative work on avoiding hospital admissions. “However, due to histori- cal anomalies, like St Luke’s, it receives relatively little money from the integrated care board.” Mid Cheshire MP Andrew Cooper said: “the recent announcement of £100mil- lion that the government is HELP OUR HOSPICES! MPs call for vital funding FOUR schools in Cheshire East are set to spearhead a‘safe haven’ parking-free pilot scheme that aims to boost pupil safety and encouragemore active travel. Newautomatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameraswill be installed to help enforce signed stopping restrictions outside Ivy Bank Primary andMarlborough Primary inMacclesfield, and Manor Park and StVincent’s primaries in Knutsford. If the scheme proves a success it could be rolled out across the borough. Under the Safe Haven Outside Schools pilot, drivers contra- veningparkingbanswill face £35 fixedpenalty fines –which rise to £70 if not paidwithin 14 days. School parking safety drive providing for hospices is very welcome. St Luke’s and East Cheshire hospices are much valued in our communities, but both receive less than 18 per cent of their funding from the government. Hospice funding needs to be fair and consistent across the country. End of life care should not depend on the generosity of individuals.”