MP for Weston-super-Mare John Penrose today welcomed news that a Government grant to improve Weston Hospicecare’s buildings and gardens has been saved. Mr Penrose had contacted Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to plead the hospice’s case after Interim Chief Executive Gill Blackshaw raised fears it might be under threat from public spending cuts. Mr Penrose’s office has recently received a letter confirming that the grant, totalling £40million for a variety of hospices around the country, will go ahead as planned.
John said: “I’m obviously delighted at the good news as this would have been a blow for the hospice, its patients and carers. Having visited them many times, I know what a wonderful job they do caring for people who are very seriously ill, but they rely heavily on private donations to operate. Without this kind of grant, they would find it very difficult to upgrade their facilities”.
Gill Blackshaw, Interim Chief Executive, said: “The decision to approve the £547,000 Grant is very good news for us. The planned changes to our buildings and gardens will help to improve patient and carer accessibility, privacy and dignity, and without this grant we would not have been able to make these improvements. We’re grateful to John Penrose for taking the matter up with the Health Secretary “
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