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Campaigner takes hospice petition to Downing Street

BBC Corin Dalby had short grey hair and is wearing a white shirt and a blue suit jacketBBC
More than 36,500 people have signed Corin Dalby's petition

An entrepreneur who has campaigned to support struggling hospices will take his petition to Downing Street later.

Corin Dalby from Bolton has called on the government to allocate the first £100m from fines issued by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to banks and other organisations, to be redirected to support hospices.

His petition now has the backing of more than 60 MPs and 30 hospices.

A government representative said FCA fines were already being used to fund vital public services, including the NHS.

Derian House Children's Hospice External view of Derian House Children's Hospice sowing sign with logo in green writingDerian House Children's Hospice
Hospices like Derian House in Chorley are having to make "tough decisions", campaigners say

Mr Dalby will be joined later by MPs who are supporting the campaign and will hand in a petition to the prime minister.

Hospices across the country have said they are under financial pressure, with many using reserves to keep operating.

Unlike the NHS, hospices are not fully funded by the state and receive about a third of their funding from government.

The sector has reported an estimated shortfall of £60m in the current financial year.

"I think that's why we got cross-party MPs because it's not political, it's personal," Mr Dalby, who runs not-for-profit energy firm Box Power CIC, said.

"Hospices are there for their community."

Karen Edwards has long hair and is wearing a black suit jacket and black and white striped top
CEO Karen Edwards says the industry needs help "right now"

Karen Edwards, CEO at Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley, said some hospices were having to make "really tough decisions" including cutting frontline nursing staff.

"We need investment right now to help hospices survive the next few months," she said.

In a statement, the Department of Health said it wanted everyone to have access to high quality end-of-life care and was aware of the financial pressures facing the sector.

It added: "We are determined to shift more healthcare into the community and ensure patients and their families receive high-quality, personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and hospices will have a big role to play in that shift."

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