John Atkins’ wife Ros was cared for at the Marie Curie Hospice in Woolton, where it has been confirmed an inpatient unit will be permanently closed
The husband of an ‘inspirational headteacher’ who was cared for at a Liverpool hospice before her death has said he is ‘terrified’ for families in the city after a decision was made to permanently close the facility’s only inpatient unit. Ros Atkins died in October 2022, just a year after being diagnosed with stage four terminal bowel cancer.
The former headteacher of Weston Primary School, was just 43 when she died. In the lead up to her passing, she was cared for by the staff on the inpatient ward at the Marie Curie hospice in Woolton. On Wednesday it was announced that the ward will be permanently closed by the charity.
Heartbroken staff have spoken out at their anger and sadness at the decision, claiming that more people will die in pain at home in Liverpool after the decision to close one of just two such hospice units in the entire city.
That sense of fear and fury has been shared by John Atkins, who said the care his wife received before her death was ‘amazing’ and said he is deeply worried about families that will not have access to such an important facility in the future.
Speaking to the ECHO, John said: “I’m astounded that Marie Curie think this is the way to treat the community. The staff at that hospice are just magical people who do amazing work for people at the most difficult time in their lives. They are superheroes.
“No one knows when they will need that care. I drove past that hospice for 20 years without ever really knowing what went on inside it until we needed it.
“I shudder to think about the families who won’t have access to that vital safe space when they need it. People are petrified about dying at home in pain and the Marie Curie unit provided a safe space to avoid that.
“This is a facility that is entrenched in the local community and I don’t understand why the charity would take a decision that would alienate that community. I think it is an incredibly short-sighted decision and it is just terrifying to think that
Since the death of his wife, John has become a keen supporter of Marie Curie, but he said the decision made this week would make him think twice about where his fundraising efforts. He said: “It makes you question things. It does make me question where I spend my money.”
He added: “I am angry. I am angry for the people who will need this service. I am angry for everyone who has donated money to it and I am angry for the unbelievable staff who did so much for us.”
Other bereaved families have also spoken out after news of the closure was announced. Maureen Craig whose husband Ian died at the hospice said: “This hospice belongs to the public. There has been a hospice at that site since 1959.
“Our loved ones died there. This land is not just prime real estate, it is sacrosanct to the thousands of families whose loved ones spent their final days there.
“There are even ashes scattered at the site. If Marie Curie are not prepared to open the inpatient ward. It should be returned to the community so it can once again offer the dignified end-of-life inpatient care Liverpool deserves.”
A statement from Marie Curie chief executive Matthew Reed, released earlier today, said: “Marie Curie chief executive, Matthew Reed, said: “This has been an incredibly tough decision. We understand it will be difficult news for future patients, our staff and volunteers and the local community and we thank them for their support through a period of uncertainty.
“I would like to assure all those who need end of life or palliative care now that we continue to provide this through our Enhanced Hospice Care at Home service – which we seek to expand further – and our outpatient clinics through which we can support more people with the funds we have available.
“We will also continue to work closely with other hospices and hospitals in Liverpool when patients need inpatient care.
“Like our partners at the ICB, we believe everyone should have access to high quality palliative and end of life care and we remain totally committed to play a part in delivering this for the people of Liverpool, recognising that most end of life care is already provided outside hospice buildings.”
He added: “Both the ICB and Marie Curie face significant financial deficits; as a charity, we must ensure our finances are sustainable and our finite funds benefit as many people as possible.
“We remain fully committed to working with the ICB and our partners to find sustainable ways to provide for palliative and end of life care – including inpatient beds – in Liverpool.
“We need to reach a long-term solution with government and healthcare system partners as costs rise, and demand grows.
“Our priority right now is to support our staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to support patients and their loved ones. We also thank the people of Liverpool for their generous support.”
The charity said its Liverpool hospice remains open for all other services, including outpatient clinics, wellbeing services and will act as a base for its Enhanced Hospice Care at Home service which delivers expert specialist palliative and end of life care to people in their own homes.