Published: Wednesday, 28th July, 2010 9:30am

Ask the hospice

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WITH regards to Derek Johnstone's letter, for anyone who is interested in knowing the hospice's current position, they only have to ask the hospice.

The hospice is certainly not, as Mr Johnstone said in his letter "very much in danger of losing all support it has gathered as it continues to keep supporters and volunteers very much in the dark".

As a hospice supporter and volunteer, I have been involved in campaigning with other volunteers to save the 30 beds at the hospice and maintain its future for those who need it now and in the future.

Most recently we, as a group of volunteers, have been leafleting local areas to keep the public informed.

There is "no danger of the hospice losing all its support" and if those who have time to sit and write such a misleading and damaging letter would consider the efforts which have been made by a large number of people, the hospice chairman and vice-chairman included, to ensure the future of the hospice for those who are in need of end of life care and palliative care, they would never have considered producing a letter with such condemnation.

Mr Johnstone is obviously not someone who is trying to help "take the hospice forward".

For volunteers and hospice supporters to have to read this letter and then take the time to reply, is a dreadful waste of time which would have been better spent trying to help the hospice reach an acceptable outcome in its current situation with the health board.

Mr Johnstone should also be informed that the hospice is a charitable organisation which has looked after patients for the past 60 years.

The health board has benefited from that care for all of those years — financially and with very high standards of care being available for those people who need it in this area.

This is something which seems to be lost on the health board in its dealings with the hospice.

Yes, the health board has, as Mr Johnstone pointed out, "the right to decide which supplier it wishes to provide care".

However, Mr Johnstone is obviously quite unaware of the Scottish Government CEL 6 (2008) which states quite clearly "due to the level of specialist treatment required it is expected that NHS continuing health care will be provided in a hospital ward, hospice or a contracted inpatient bed, which may be based in a care home".

As St Margaret's is the only hospice providing NHS continuing care in Scotland, if these beds are removed, then the patients and their families do not have the choice which is expressly set out in the CEL 6.

It is also worth remembering the "others which the health board has dealings with" are private organisations, with shareholders and profits to consider.

The hospice, being a charitable organisation (and not a private one as Mr Johnstone incorrectly stated) has no such commitments, other than to the patients and their families.

I would also highlight to Mr Johnstone, that unlike the health board members, the hospice board members receive no financial reimbursement for their efforts or expenses for their travel or time spent away from their own employment.

They have the hospice's best interests at the heart of their efforts.

It is so obvious from Mr Johnstone's letter that he does not.

Donald Smith, Anniesland

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