Backlash over Marie Curie hospice axe

By dfarbrother david farbrother david.farbrother@essnmedia.co.uk

A garden centre had stopped collecting money for a cancer charity because customers are angered over plans to close its hospice.

According to staff at Knights Plant and Life Garden Centre, in Bletchingley Road, Godstone, the reaction from shoppers to Marie Curie's plans to close its community hospice in Harestone Drive, Caterham, at the end of March has been so negative they have been forced to hide collection boxes.

Manager Richard Holloway, whose father Denys died from kidney cancer at the hospice in 1994, said: "I am not talking about a handful of customers here, but probably between 30 and 40.

"In the space of a fortnight, Marie Curie Cancer Care has gone from being the best supported charity in the whole area to the object of unprecedented public outrage.

"During the last couple of weeks, the mere sight of the sweet boxes bearing the Marie Curie logo have ignited such a negative reaction in our customers that we have been forced to withdraw them from view."

The 47-year-old said two thirds of the charity donations they used to get went to Marie Curie, but now the customers are supporting St Catherine's Hospice, Crawley, and The Children's Trust, Tadworth.

East Surrey MP Peter Ainsworth said: "The Marie Curie charity appears to have completely misjudged the strength of local feeling and it is essential, for the sake of local families and Marie Curie staff, that the future of this vital service is resolved without delay.

"Matters are not helped by the charity's apparent reluctance to be open and straightforward about their intentions, and the causes of this crisis. The good name of Marie Curie is at stake."

Mr Ainsworth has written to Marie Curie's chief executive Thomas Hughes-Hallet, asking if he would be willing to attend a public meeting to discuss the charity's closure plans.

Marie Curie said the charity was considering a restructure of its services in Surrey which could see the closure of its Caterham Hospice site and the associated day care service by March 31.

It is also reviewing the current Community Supportive Care Service and the Specialist Palliative Care team.

A spokesman said: "We are in discussions with Surrey Primary Care Trust and local healthcare providers, looking at the future of palliative care services in Caterham.

"Once those discussions are concluded we will be in a position to make a further announcement. Beyond that, to contribute to the ongoing speculation would not be appropriate or productive."

Grieving husband condemns closure plans - page 13