Political allies sought for hospice campaign

WOULD-BE MPs are being petitioned to ensure they back a campaign to boost specialist care for the terminally ill in North Yorkshire amid warnings that demand for services will soar.

Prospective parliamentary candidates are being contacted ahead of the General Election to urge them to sign up to an "end of life care manifesto" which has been drawn up by the Harrogate-based St Michael's charity.

The charity, which runs a hospice at Crimple House in Hornbeam Park Avenue in the spa town, has warned that it faces increasing demand for its services amid dramatic rises in the number of elderly people.

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Efforts are now under way to secure the support of the new MPs responsible for the two constituencies, Harrogate and Knaresborough as well as Skipton and Ripon, which the charity serves.

The chief executive of St Michael's, Tony Collins, said: "A hospice is not just a building – it is a way of caring for people. At St Michael's we provide physical, emotional, spiritual, social care and support at our hospice, in the community and in people's homes.

"With an ageing population the demand on palliative and end of life care is set to increase, hospices need more secure and sustained investment in order to provide the very best care for everyone facing the end of life."

The manifesto is calling on the Government to increase funding in end of life care as the charity looks to develop its services across the Harrogate district.

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The campaign is also looking to improve training in palliative and end of life care for staff working in all heathcare settings.

In North Yorkshire, it is estimated there will be 50 per cent more people aged over the age of 65 living in the county by 2020 – a quarter of the total population. In 2001, the over-65s represented only 18 per cent.