Fears for future plan for hospice

The protest was held in support of St Margaret's Hospice

Relatives of terminally-ill patients have demonstrated over proposed changes at Scotland's largest hospice.

They have been angered that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is considering relocating selected services from St Margaret's in Clydebank.

The protesters claim that a 30-bed ward, which offers acute continuing care, could be lost.

The health board is looking at replacing the beds with other services for elderly people.

A spokeswoman said discussions were ongoing with the hospice.

Campaigners said the NHS was looking to provide a reduced service from the nearby Blawarthill hospital due to changing demand.

They have launched a petition calling on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde not to withdraw funding.

What the health board is proposing is to downgrade St Margaret of Scotland Hospice to a nursing home Prof Leo Martin Hospice chairman

Marjorie McCance, whose terminally-ill mother is cared for at St Margaret's, said: "What the hospice provides is an essential service that provides holistic care for the patient and emotional support for the family.

"It is fundamental that this hospice is saved."

Hospice chairman Professor Leo Martin said he feared that if the changes went ahead the hospice would become no more than a nursing home.

"These are hospice beds for the elderly with complex medical and nursing needs," he said.

"What the health board is proposing is to downgrade St Margaret of Scotland Hospice to a nursing home.

"Over five decades we have provided first-class care for people who are dying, including acute, frail, elderly patients.

"Under the health board's proposals, funding would be massively cut and our hardworking fundraisers would face an impossible strain."

Alternative uses

The health board has signalled it may withdraw £1.9m of funding but is looking to use the space for other services for the frail and elderly.

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said a review of services for frail, older people in 2004 concluded that 30 fewer continuing care beds would be needed in the west of the city.

"The move to reduce reliance on long term NHS care is part of an ongoing programme to rebalance care across Greater Glasgow and Clyde," she said.

"Since the review concluded we have been working with St Margaret's Hospice to try to explore a number of alternative uses for the 30 frail elderly beds which they currently provide on our behalf."

St Margaret's opened in Clydebank in 1950 and currently has 60 beds - 30 for palliative care and 30 for frail, elderly people.