Protests and demonstrations have been held as a vital inpatient unit at the Marie Curie Hospice in Woolton remains closed
12:06, 17 Jun 2025Updated 17:39, 19 Jun 2025
The Marie Curie Cancer Care Hospice on Speke Road in Woolton has been closed since last summer
A new update has been provided on the future of a Liverpool hospice where the crucial inpatient unit has been closed for many months.
The 26-bed inpatient unit at Marie Curie Hospice in Speke Road in Woolton has been closed since last summer, with fears expressed it may never reopen. The ward is where people with terminal illnesses are supported and cared for in their final weeks and days as well as community services and day services.
‘Devastated’ staff members working at the hospice have told the ECHO how difficult the current situation is for them and the people they care for and there have been a number of protests held by the local community who believe reopening the unit is essential.
Another ‘Save Our Hospice’ demonstration is planned for this weekend, with campaigners set to gather outside the hospice and demand the inpatient unit is restored.
Ahead of that protest, the Marie Curie charity has delivered an update on the ongoing situation facing the hospice and efforts being made to reopen the inpatient ward.
A spokesperson for Marie Curie North West said: “We do not underestimate the impact that the uncertainty surrounding the future of the inpatient unit has had on bereaved families, those facing the end of life, staff, volunteers, and the local community in Liverpool.
“Marie Curie continues to work with the NHS Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) – who are responsible for buying end of life care services which meet the needs of the local community – and our partners to reach an agreement which would enable the sustainable reopening of inpatient beds at our Liverpool hospice.
There have been protests against the Marie Curie Hospice ward closure in Woolton
“The agreement with the ICB will need to address the shortfall in proper funding which currently prevents delivery of services, staffing requirements for the hospice and the commitment to work together on the future for more widely accessible inpatient beds across Liverpool.
The statement added: “We very much hope we can reach a shared resolution on these issues and our colleagues, volunteers and the local community will be the first to hear about any developments and decisions as and when they happen.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who is working hard to maintain our other vital services for local people at this time, and we thank the local community for their ongoing passion and support.”
Speaking previously about the impact of the closure of the inpatient unit, one nurse told the ECHO: “When people are in a hospice we can look after them the whole time and make them comfortable. We can’t do that with the ward closed.”
“To have a terminal diagnosis and then be told there is no hospice for you is just terrible. I just want to cry thinking about people and what this means for them.
“I don’t know what people will do if it closes permanently. It is really sad. We didn’t sign up to only provide community care, it is a completely different job and we are all feeling lots of pressure.”
The Save Our Hospice Marie Curie Rally will be held outside the Speke Road site on Saturday June 21, with people asked to assemble from midday.