Staff 'just want to cry' after closure of hospice ward

Staff say they fear for the long-term future of a Liverpool hospice after the temporary closure of a ward they say is vital. Liverpool's Marie Curie Hospice, based in Speke Road in Woolton, includes a 26-bed inpatient unit where people with terminal illnesses are supported and cared for in their final weeks and days as well as community services and day services.

But the inpatient ward has been closed since July and worried staff said they have now been told it will remain closed until at least next spring - with some expressing concerns it may never reopen. 'Devastated' staff members working at the hospice have told the ECHO how difficult the current situation is for them and the people they care for.

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They criticised communication from charity bosses and said there is now a 'lack of trust' when it comes to the future of a hospice that serves the whole of south Liverpool. A hospice spokesperson today told the ECHO they were "committed to providing the care people need, when they need it."

One nurse said the impact of the closure of the unit on people with terminal illnesses was already enormous. She told the ECHO: "When people are in a hospice we can look after them the whole time and make them comfortable. We can't do that with the ward closed."

Speaking about the feeling amongst staff, she added: "It is absolutely horrible, everyone is miserable. When they closed the ward they said they would be reopening it in a few weeks, then that date kept getting pushed back with no real reasons given. Now it has been pushed back to the spring but it feels like it might not reopen at all.

"To have a terminal diagnosis and then be told there is no hospice for you is just terrible. I just want to cry thinking about people and what this means for them. I don't know what people will do if it closes permanently. It is really sad. We didn't sign up to only provide community care, it is a completely different job and we are all feeling lots of pressure."

Marie Curie says that it has been experiencing staffing shortages which are affecting its ability to deliver specialist nursing care around the clock at the Woolton facility. They confirmed that all other services running from the hospice are continuing as normal.

But another staff member questioned the staffing claims, claiming that the charity has frozen all recruitment. She told the ECHO: "They have said that they are hoping to reopen the ward but this doesn't really fit with what they are doing. The longer this goes on, the more worried we are.

"Everyone has offered to work extra shifts if there are staffing issues. They have said there are staffing issues but they have also frozen recruitment."

The staff member added: "The patients we look after are very frail, they all have terminal illnesses. In terms of the other services, it is not possible to do all of that without the ward. Most people don't want to go into hospital. Hospices are the one place that provide a bed and a place to stay for these people that are not hospital.

"Staff are devastated, everyone is stressed and upset. Some people have been working at the hospice for 20 years and are extremely dedicated to providing this service. Everyone has offered to work extra shifts if there are staffing issues. They have said there are staffing issues but they have also frozen recruitment."

She added: "I suspect they will close the ward permanently, which would leave a major gap in the city. This is the only one covering south Liverpool. There is a complete lack of trust now. Morale is really low. The Christmas party has been cancelled because no one wants to go."

She added: "It is getting more difficult everyday, we see patients who are now having to go into hospital or who don't want to die at home. We can't provide round-the-clock care without the ward. Most people in south Liverpool have had some experience with this hospice, people need to know what is going on."

A spokesperson for Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool, said: “Like many other healthcare providers, we are experiencing staffing shortages, and this is impacting our ability to deliver specialist nursing care around the clock in our hospice. As an organisation, the safety of our patient and staff is paramount. Unfortunately, as we are unable to maintain safe staffing levels currently, we have had to make the tough but necessary decision to pause admissions to our in-patient unit.

“We understand that this is a difficult time for our colleagues, but it is important to reassure the local community that we continue to be there for people living with a terminal illness in their final days, weeks, and months. We have also increased the number of people receiving our specialist hospice care and support in their own homes or wherever they live.

“As a charity, we are committed to providing the care people need, when they need it so that they can spend more precious time with their loved ones and have a good end of life care experience.

“All other Marie Curie services running at or from our hospice, including all outpatients, well-being and ambulatory services, STARs, IMPaCT (including 24/7 advice) and other community services, continue as usual.”