Tag: MPs

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MP and councillor see Willow Wood’s vital work

Willow Wood Hospice has welcomed High Peak MP Jon Pearce and Councillor Damien Greenhalgh for the first time to see and hear about its vital role in the community.

The Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, provides compassionate, specialist and dignified care to patients with any life-limiting illness and those closest to them from Tameside and Glossop.

The Labour MP, who represents Glossop residents in Parliament, and Cllr Greenhalgh met with several members of Willow Wood’s Senior Management Team and Timothy Jackson, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

They were also given a tour of the Hospice by Timothy and Clinical Director Nicola Cheetham and interacted with some staff and volunteers.

During the round-table discussion, CEO Tracy Minshull expressed her gratitude for the government’s support in providing £181,000 to the Hospice in capital funding – which will be spent on refurbishing the Inpatient Unit – but outlined the significant challenges relating to long-term sustainable funding, particularly as supporters have less money to donate and it costs at least £3.6 million a year to keep the Hospice running.

Clinical Director Nicola Cheetham showing High Peak MP Jon Pearce and Councillor Damien Greenhalgh one of our Complementary Therapy suites
Clinical Director Nicola Cheetham showing High Peak MP Jon Pearce and Councillor Damien Greenhalgh one of our Complementary Therapy suites

Nicola gave an overview of Willow Wood’s array of services and outlined that 70 per cent of the care provided is by the Community Services team, both at the Hospice and in a patient’s own home, encouraging patients to live as well as possible for as long as possible.

Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising and Communications, emphasised how much the Hospice relies on the generosity of the local community through supporting fundraising events and the shops. She also acknowledged the success of moving the Hospice’s Glossop shop into a bigger and better location and recent awards recognition for Willow Wood, including the retail team.

Gill Egerton, Head of HR and Workforce, explained how Willow Wood’s army of around 500 volunteers support all areas of the Hospice and its eight charity shops. She also spoke about collaborations with local colleges and businesses, as well as supporting 16 to 24-year-olds into paid work placements through the Youth Employment Support (YES) scheme in Tameside.

MP Jon Pearce and Cllr Damien Greenhalgh in conversation with our Senior Management Team and Chair of the Board of Trustees
MP Jon Pearce and Cllr Damien Greenhalgh in conversation with our Senior Management Team and Chair of the Board of Trustees

CEO Tracy Minshull said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Jon and Damien to the Hospice to give them a snapshot of what we do. We are grateful for their time and engagement – we were impressed by their knowledge of the hospice and wider healthcare sector. We hope to have their continued support as we work to meet the increasing demand for our services while navigating financial challenges.”

Jon Pearce MP said: “Visiting Willow Wood Hospice was both moving and inspiring. The care provided by the organisation goes far beyond medical support – it’s about dignity, compassion, and standing alongside families during some of the most difficult times of their lives. I was especially impressed by the Hospice’s outreach to support people living with dementia and their family carers – something I have a deep personal connection to through my family’s own experience with my father’s illness.

“The professionalism and kindness shown by the entire team at Willow Wood is making a real difference to so many across Tameside and Glossop. I’ll continue to do all I can to ensure hospices like Willow Wood get the recognition and long-term support they so clearly deserve.”

Cllr Damien Greenhalgh said: “This was a truly heartwarming visit. The impact and power of volunteering came through loud and clear – from the 20-strong team lovingly tending to the beautiful gardens, to those welcoming patients and families, and the volunteers raising vital funds in community shops. Willow Wood Hospice is nothing short of remarkable – not only for the quality of care it provides, but for the dedication, heart, and generosity of the staff and volunteers who make it all possible. It’s a local treasure we must all champion.”

Mr Pearce – whose family have a working background in the medical profession – was elected as an MP for the first time last year, while his Chief of Staff, Damien Greenhalgh, is also Deputy Leader of High Peak Borough Council and represents the Glossop South division on Derbyshire County Council.

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Hospice leaders urge MPs to support funding reform on Parliament visit

Our CEO Tracy Minshull and Clinical Director Nicola Cheetham went to Parliament yesterday (Tuesday) to ask MPs to support reforming the funding model for hospices.

During the event, the Greater Manchester Hospices Provider Collaborative asked MPs to sign a joint letter to the Minister of State for Health and Social Care.

The letter called for the Government’s new 10-year health plan to include improvements to palliative and end-of-life care, and a reformation of the current hospice funding model.

Currently £11.7bn is spent on health care for people in the last year of their life in the UK, with 80 per cent spent in hospitals and just four per cent on hospice care. Hospices in Greater Manchester care for around 10,000 patients every year.

Since 2020, hospice costs in Greater Manchester have risen by 33 per cent, with two-thirds of costs paid for by fundraising within the local community.

The Government announced just before Christmas that hospices in England will receive £100m over the next two years, which has been welcomed by Greater Manchester’s hospices.

However, it can only be spent on improvements such as to buildings, IT systems and outdoor spaces and does not cover day-to-day running costs.

Tracy and Nicola with other Greater Manchester hospice leaders outside Parliament

Tracy Minshull, Willow Wood Hospice CEO, commented: “Willow Wood Hospice has a vital role in providing compassionate, specialist care for any adult in our local community with a life-limiting illness.

“The current funding model is simply unsustainable. With rising costs and increasing demand, we urgently need a fairer, long-term solution to ensure hospices like ours can continue to support those who need us most.

“Meeting with some of our Greater Manchester MPs in Parliament was an important opportunity to highlight these challenges and call for meaningful change. We hope the Government will listen and take action to secure the future of hospice care.

“Thank you to Trish Cavanagh, from Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, who attended to support us as our locality lead.”

The Greater Manchester Hospices Provider Collaborative is a long-standing strategic partnership between the seven adult and two children’s hospices across the region’s 10 boroughs, who work closely together to improve the quality, access and sustainability of services.

The parliamentary event was sponsored by Makerfield MP Josh Simons.

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Local MP Largan visits Willow Wood

Willow Wood welcomed local MP Robert Largan to see and hear about the vital and varied work of the Hospice’s dedicated staff and volunteers.

Mr Largan was given a tour of the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, so he could get a flavour of the vast array of services available to patients from the local community.

The High Peak MP also met with several members of Willow Wood’s Senior Management Team and Philip Millson, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, who all outlined in detail the immediate and long-term challenges that the Hospice faces.

They also engaged in an in-depth and productive discussion with the MP about the far-reaching impact that Willow Wood has on the wider community and the need for a sustainable funding model for hospices across the country.

Robert Largan MP in discussion with Willow Wood’s Senior Management Team and Philip Millson, Chair of the Board of Trustees

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Willow Wood Hospice needs at least £3.3 million every year to continue providing free, high quality, multi-professional care, support and education to people from Glossop – whose residents Mr Largan represents in Parliament – and Tameside.

Of those costs, around 80 per cent must be raised through the generosity of our local community and support from donors.

The Hospice hopes that Mr Largan, a Conservative MP who also holds the Government role of Assistant Whip, can use his influence both locally and in the House of Commons to lobby for support.

(left to right) Nicola Cheetham, Clinical Director; Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising & Communications; Ian Wicks, Director of Finance; High Peak MP Robert Largan; Philip Millson, Chair of the Board of Trustees; and Karen Houlston, Chief Executive Officer outside the entrance to the Hospice

Karen Houlston, CEO of Willow Wood Hospice, said: “We were pleased to welcome Robert to the Hospice for the first time and appreciate him taking the time to visit us.

“It is crucial to have the backing of our local MPs so we can address both the short-term funding deficit that hospices like Willow Wood are experiencing and establish a funding structure that is sustainable for the future.

“We are grateful that Robert pledged to do what he can to support the Hospice, particularly in building relationships in Glossop and wider Derbyshire for the benefit of his constituents, as well as agreeing to promote – and even take part in – some of our fundraising events.”

MP Robert Largan said: “It was lovely to visit Willow Wood Hospice. It was great to see the work they do first hand and see the amazing care that they provide for Glossop residents. I am proud to support them.”

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A Willow Wood welcome for local MP Reynolds

MP Jonathan Reynolds has paid a visit to Willow Wood to express his support for the important role the Hospice plays within the local community.

Mr Reynolds, who is a steadfast ally and advocate of the Hospice, was updated on the vast array of services that Willow Wood offers to his constituents – ranging from Complementary Therapy to confidential one-to-one counselling.

The visit was also a valuable opportunity for staff at the Hospice to talk to the Stalybridge and Hyde MP about the immediate and long-term challenges Willow Wood faces.

After a stroll through the gardens, accompanied by CEO Karen Houlston, Mr Reynolds met with the Chairman of the Board, Philip Millson, and members of the Hospice’s Senior Management Team.

They engaged in an in-depth discussion about the pressing issues arising from the funding crises, which is affecting hospices across Greater Manchester.

Willow Wood Hospice, which celebrates its 25th anniversary next year, needs at least £3.3 million every year to continue providing free, high quality, multi-professional care, support and education to people from across Tameside and Glossop.

Of those costs, around 80 per cent must be raised through the generosity of our local community and support from donors.

The Hospice hopes that Mr Reynolds, who is also Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, can use his influence in the House of Commons to lobby for a sustainable funding model for hospices.

Karen Houlston, CEO of Willow Wood Hospice, said: “The backing of MPs to help address both the short-term funding deficit hospices are experiencing, and to establish a sustainable, lasting funding structure is crucial, and we are immensely appreciative of Jonathan’s consistent support.”

MP Jonathan Reynolds commented: “I am so proud of all that Willow Wood Hospice achieve and what the Hospice means to the people of our area.

“Their resilience even in the toughest financial challenges is extraordinary. Please continue to support them and their work that brings so much comfort and dignity in the toughest chapters of local lives.”