Today, Parliament welcomed hospice professionals, healthcare leaders, MPs, and families for a poignant discussion on the future of hospice care in Greater Manchester and beyond. Jo Platt – the MP for Leigh and Atherton – was in attendance, to show her support for Wigan & Leigh Hospice.
The event – entitled “Hospice Care in Greater Manchester: What Have We Got to Lose?” – brought together adult and children’s hospices from across the region to highlight the vital services they provide, and the stark financial challenges they face without urgent reform.
During the event, there were speeches from key figures in Greater Manchester’s palliative care community.
Leigh and Atherton MP – Jo Platt – said: “I was proud to join fellow MPs and hospice care providers to discuss the importance of equitable access to high-quality palliative care and the need for sustainable, long-term funding for these vital services.
“Hospices play a vital role within our communities – and I know just how hard they work – Wigan & Leigh Hospice, which cares for residents in my constituency, is no exception. It was great to meet with them at this event.”
The GM Hospices Collaborative, which organised the event, is calling for urgent national reform and local solutions to protect and expand hospice services – which remain heavily reliant on charitable donations.
Last year, this Labour Government outlined plans for the biggest investment into hospices in a generation.