Ellenor Foundation

EDM number 844 in 1989-90, proposed by DN Campbell-Savours on 04/04/1990.

That this House deplores the decision by Dartford and Gravesham Health Authority to withdraw financial support from the Ellenor Foundation, Hospice Case Team, a registered charity; notes that this will lead to the loss of two out of 4.5 of its home care nursing staff; contrasts the Minister of Health's recently stated wish for 'authorities to work towards a full partnership which matches voluntary giving towards hospice services', with the reality that there will be no financial contribution whatsoever to a specialist service for dying patients and their families in the district; recognises that these and other serious cuts arose from the health authority's ú562000 deficit, which effectively bankrupted the authority, so that, at one point, reportedly consultants bizarrely had to pay staff out of their own pockets in the absence of pay cheques; and questions whether the Secretary of State's reaction in appointing a merchant banker as the new District Health Authority Chairman, generally characterises his response to the National Health Service funding crises nationally.

This motion has been signed by a total of 5 MPs.