Derbyshire hospice suspends plans to build new unit amid pandemic struggles

The decision was made after Treetops Hospice identified an increasing demand for palliative care for patients in their own homes and a need to concentrate fundraising efforts on existing care services.

Treetops, based in Risley, provides nursing care and emotional support for adults with life-limiting conditions such as cancer, motor neurone disease and heart and respiratory conditions.

An emergency appeal was launched in March as the hospice planned for the worst possible financial outcome.

Julie Heath, Treetops chief executive, said: “During lockdown we had to temporarily close all our retail shops and cancel several major fundraising events, which had a significant impact on our finances."

The hospice has seen an increase in requests for its Hospice at Home Service, providing nursing care at home for terminally-ill patients at the very end of life.

Julie said: “We anticipate that demand for our Treetops nurses will continue for the foreseeable future and in a post-Covid world.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on good stewardship and so our priority remains to ensure financial security and provide certainty that Treetops will be here for patients and their families right now, and for many years to come.

"Unfortunately, this means we simply cannot afford to build and run a bedded unit at this time.

“It remains our aspiration to one day provide end-of-life beds for the local community.

"We will embark on this again when our current services are secure.”

The ‘Lime Tree Appeal’ to build the bedded unit had generated donations and

pledges of more than £1million.

Donors have been advised of the postponed plans and asked if they would like to direct their support to the Treetops Covid-19 Appeal or other Treetops services.

Julie added: "We are still unable to organise fundraising events for large groups of people and we are urging all our supporters to continue to help us at this time.”