'Urgent action' is needed now to protect hospices in Renfrewshire

Renfrewshire’s two hospices have said they have no current plans to cut staff and services as a national body warns underfunding has left the sector stretched to breaking point.

- LUCINDA CAMERON AND EDEL KENEALY

A Hospice UK survey of 14 hospice organisations in Scotland found that two thirds had already made cuts or were planning to make cuts in the next year.

Financial pressures were cited as the main reason for cut backs, while demand for palliative care is also said to be at an all-time high.

Speaking within days of the survey results being released, Accord and St Vincent's hospices confirmed they were under huge strain but said they had no current plans to reduce services.

A spokesperson for Paisley’s Accord Hospice told the Express: “Like many hospices across the country, Accord is experiencing reductions in local authority funding from Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

“While these changes will not impact our services this year, we are actively reviewing our position should these cuts continue or remain at current levels.

“Our priority remains delivering the highest quality care and support to patients and families, and we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to safeguard this.”