Following the announcement that Nightingale House was experiencing cashflow problems Wrexham’s MP and former nurse, Sarah Atherton, has written to the Minister for Civil Society, Baroness Barran, to highlight the fantastic work they do to support the community.
In her letter Ms Atherton said:
“Nightingale House is a wonderful local charity which provides specialist palliative care services, completely free-of-charge, to patients and their families across North East Wales. Services include a 12 bed inpatient ward, a 15 patient day-care unit, an outpatient clinic, occupational therapy, complementary therapies, physiotherapy including a hydrotherapy pool and an ambulance service. A range of bereavement support services are offered including a specialist service for children and young adults.
“Since the onset of Coronavirus in the UK Nightingale’s traditional fundraising avenues, like those of many charities, have dried up. The hospice is due to lose £1.2m in revenue streams this year and there is no sight of any possible fundraising events in 2020.
Their fundraising primarily comes from eleven charity shops and two cafes, which have started to reopen, and social distancing measures are in place, but they will not come close to covering the financial shortfall.
“Nightingale was promised £600,000 out of the deal negotiated between Hospice UK and the Government earlier this year. However, since an initial forward of £200,000, they have not received anything. Their cash flow is now getting critical.
“Could someone please look into this and ensure that this brilliant local charity is able to survive.”