Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset, made a moving visit to Weldmar Hospicecare’s Inpatient Unit on Friday 10th May to meet with patients, staff and the charity’s CEO, Caroline Hamblett. The visit followed Mr Loder’s recent call in Parliament for palliative care to be treated with greater priority. Weldmar Hospicecare is Dorset’s largest independent charity, with its main Inpatient Unit located in Dorchester.
Mr Loder said: “It was an exceptionally moving opportunity to spend time with patients at Weldmar’s Inpatient Unit. My own aunt received end of life care at the hospice in 2010, and since then the Inpatient Unit has undergone a significant refurbishment. Along with the exceptional staff members, it’s a welcoming environment for patients, who are often facing some of the most difficult circumstances.”
He added: “A few weeks ago in Parliament I asked the Minister to give proper consideration to the financial challenges hospices are facing. Weldmar has to raise £27,200 every single day on top of its NHS income. I’m hopeful that over the coming months and years we will see some changes to the current model of hospice funding.”
