'It breaks my heart to think of other people being turned away, says Julie, as she backs hospice's appeal to stop bed closures

DERBYSHIRE FACILITY WHERE HER PARENTS DIED HOLDING HANDS NEEDS £244K TO KEEP TWO OPEN FOR SIX MONTHS HAVING ALREADY SHUT SIX DUE TO FUNDING CUTS

- By OSCAR FISHER

A DERBYSHIRE hospice has launched an urgent appeal after revealing proposals to reduce inpatient beds, cut staff numbers and scale back its services.

Ashgate Hospice near Chesterfield launched the appeal in October to save vital end-of-life-care beds after being forced to announce 'devastating' cuts due to 'unfair funding!

It says the proposals are a result of a £2.6m gap in funding, prompted by cuts from the NHS.

The North Derbyshire hospice is now hoping its supporters will back its Save a Precious Bed Appeal, which aims to raise £244,000 to keep two (of nine specialist beds earmarked for closure) open for a further six months.

Julie Whittaker, whose parents, Lynne and Chris Johnson, experienced Ashgate's 'comforting' care firsthand, has backed the appeal.

The couple, married for 52 years, were cared for together in the same room at Ashgate before dying just days apart in February 2024.

Julie, 50, from Glapwell, said: "My mum and dad were cared for side by side, in the same room, holding hands until the very end.

"Those two beds meant everything to us comfort, dignity and the chance to be together until the very end.

"It breaks my heart to think of other people being turned away and so many of Ashgate's specialist hospice beds standing empty."