Foyle Hospice founder Dr Tom McGinley says it is "disgraceful" that the charity is receiving a dramatically lower amount of funding from the Department of Health than other Hospices across the North.
In an emotional speech at the North West People of the Year Awards on Saturday night last, Dr McGinley revealed that, in the past 25 years, £26 million had been raised exclusively by the local community for the Foyle Hospice compared to just £3 milli
on funding from the Government.
And he challenged the city's elected representatives to make a direct appeal to Minister of Health Michael McGimpsey to rectify the situation.
Speaking to the 'Journal' yesterday, Dr McGinley said he believed the Health Board was "taking advantage of the generosity of the local community and the success of the Hospice's fundraising campaign".
He said that, while the Foyle Hospice was receiving 15% funding, they needed 35% funding which would be on a par, percentage-wise, with other hospices across the North."The simple fact is that, without the Foyle Hospice, the Western Trust would have no specialist in-patient unit giving this care," he said. "Local people needing in-patient hospice care would have to travel to Belfast. I have to speak out now because I'm angry and worried about this situation."
Dr McGinley said that the charity simply wanted to be treated equally with other hospices. He said that home care was funded 50-50 - a situation he was happy with; however, he says funding for the inpatient unit at Culmore Road needs to be increased.
The 'Journal' can reveal that, in 2005-2006, the Southern Area Hospice in Newry - which is a similar size to the Foyle Hospice - received £600,000 while the Foyle Hospice received just £250,000. We also understand that, across the border, hospices are receiving 80% funding from the government.
Dr McGinley says that people have been shocked to hear of the disparity in funding between the hospices.
"We are dependent on the community," he said. "Without the support of the community we could not function. Our funds do not take into consideration the thousands of pounds that are saved by the many people who give their time voluntarily.
"The Foyle Hospice is community driven.
"My worry is whether the people of the community can be expected to continue giving the level of funding they have done over the years."
The full article contains 405 words and appears in Journal Tuesday County Edit newspaper.
