'Our crucial hospice needs more financial support'

The level of state funding for end-of-life care has become unsustainable, the director of a Lancashire hospice celebrating its 40th anniversary has said.

David Houston, chief executive of Trinity Hospice in Blackpool, said government funding "doesn't go far enough to enable us to continue to grow our services and meet the increasing needs of people for dedicated hospice care".

Trinity accepted its first patient on 3 June 1985 after years of fundraising to build a hospice to service the Fylde Coast.

The Department for Health and Social Care said hospices carry out "incredible work" and that is why it recently announced the "largest investment in hospices in a generation".

The department said it was working to make sure the sector was sustainable for the long term.

Mr Houston said the hospice, in the Bispham area of the town, used to have 40% of its annual £12.5m covered by the government but that has since dropped to 26%.

He said: "It means our community – the people we serve – are left to fill the gap."

He added the service was also crucial to relieve end-of-life pressures felt in local hospitals.

The hospice was developed by local GP Dr David Cooper, who believed everyone living in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre had the right to good end-of-life care.

Dr Cooper said: "There have been many hurdles to overcome, financial, political and administrative but with the help of the local community, various levels of the NHS management and government ministers, we have reached our 40th year."

He urged local people to continue their "ongoing support in any way you can so it "can succeed for another 40 years, at least".

Last year, Trinity's community palliative care team supported 1,594 patients, while 362 patients were admitted into the hospice.

Among those paying homage to the hospice was Anne Nolan of 1970s girl band The Nolans, whose late sisters Bernie and Linda received care there.

Ms Nolan said Bernie died in the hospice in 2013, adding: "At that time, we weren't The Nolans. We were treated with all the compassion and care that everyone else receives at Trinity."

Ms Nolan said Trinity "meant so much" to her sister Linda.

"She spoke so often about the wonderful people she had met at the hospice and honestly, I don't know what she'd have done without them," she said.

"And although her final days were at the hospital, a Trinity nurse came to see us to make sure we were alright."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.