An update on the in-patient unit at the Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool

In the interest of patient safety, Marie Curie took the difficult but necessary decision to pause admissions to the in-patient unit last summer. Like many other care providers, Marie Curie has experienced challenges recruiting and retaining the number of staff required to safely run the unit.

We’re very sorry for the concern this has caused and understand that this has impacted our patients, staff, volunteers, supporters and the local community. Throughout this period, Marie Curie has continued to care for local people at the end of life through all our other services, including as outpatients at the hospice and our Enhanced Hospice Care at Home service.

We're continuing to work with the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) who are responsible for deciding on and buying the services they need in the area, to reach an agreement which would enable the sustainable reopening of the in-patient unit.

The agreement will need to address the funding shortfall which currently prevents sustainable delivery of services, staffing requirements for the hospice, and the commitment to work together on a guaranteed future for more widely accessible in-patient beds across Liverpool. These discussion and negotiations continue, and we very much hope we can reach a shared resolution on these issues. Our staff, volunteers and local community will be the first to hear about any developments and decisions when they happen.

Thank you to everyone who came to our public event on 28 April. We really appreciate your ongoing commitment and passion, and your openness and willingness to share how this has affected you.

We will continue to find ways for the public in Liverpool to have a voice in shaping what happens in the area.

All the feedback and questions from the public event are being collated and will be shared with the attendees who asked for us to do so.

All other services in Liverpool are operating as normal and we continue to support people with a terminal illness or at the end of life.

Our outpatient service at the hospice is fully staffed and operational and our community services providing care and psychological support for patients in the last few months of their life continue. Our Patient and Family Support team continue supporting people and we have a free Support Line which operates seven days a week.

Last year working alongside our local NHS partners, we introduced new services to provide end of life care for more people at home. Our Enhanced Hospice Care at Home service (which the NHS refers to as Virtual ward) provides specialist care to people at home from experts including nurses, doctors and a range of health professionals. People who would have been considered for in-patient admission are still being referred to us and assessed for their suitability for enhanced hospice care at home. This is an in-person service and is not a telephone line.

Negotiation and discussions with the ICB continue. As soon as we have news to share we will do so. One way you can keep up to date is to keep an eye on this page for updates.

If you’d like to tell us what you think or ask a question, please get in touch with us by emailing comments@mariecurie.org.uk.

All our other services in Liverpool are operating as normal. If you or someone you love has a terminal illness or is reaching end of life please do get in touch, we're here to help.

If you're currently caring for someone who is dying, please contact our IMPACT service on 0300 100 1002 who will provide support or a referral to the services you need. All our services can be contacted through this IMPACT service.

Marie Curie also has a free Support Line. Open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm Saturday to Sunday.