Petition to return 'vital' contract to St Teresa's Hospice

Earlier this month, the Darlington charity was left devastated after the contract for its service - which it has run since 2011 - was awarded to the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT). 

The 24/7 service, which is staffed by specialist nurses and healthcare assistants, offers essential pain management and gives patients the choice to die at home with their loved ones rather than in hospital. 

Nicola Myers, chief executive, and Carol Charlton, chair of trustees, at St Teresa's Hospice in Darlington (Image: ST TERESA'S HOSPICE)

The news sparked fears the move could reduce the “quality and timelessness” of care - with  chief executive Nicola Myers saying she "passionately believes" the hospice was best placed to provide the service.

Now, a petition has been launched to help re-award the contract back to the hospice, with fears the service “could lead to more standardised procedures that may not recognize the unique needs of individual patients” if given to the NHS trust. 

Nearly 2,000 people have signed the petition, which described St Teresa’s as a “sanctuary for severely ill and dying individuals in our community”.

The petition can be viewed and signed online via Change.org here.

St Teresa's Hospice, on Woodland Road in Darlington (Image: The Northern Echo)

It comes just days after more than 40 past and present GPs and professionals signed a letter calling on the CDDFT to either return the contract or at least sub-contract it. 

GPs said they "do not believe the decision made is in the best interests of patients and the community" in the letter, which can be read in full here.

St Teresa’s developed the rapid response service for three years before it was put out to tender by NHS commissioners in 2015. 

The hospice was the chosen provider in Darlington, and Marie Curie in County Durham, with funding split 50-50 between the NHS and the charities.

The new contract means that, in Darlington, NHS commissioners will contribute £250,000-a-year towards the service.

St Teresa’s said it would supplement the service financially from its own funds if awarded the contract, "significantly more" than the £250,000 figure.

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However, as things stand, the new contract with CDDFT will come into effect on December 1. 

A CDDFT spokesperson previously told The Northern Echo it was “committed” to ensuring “smooth and safe transition” - and had already reached out to "offer support for a review of [St Teresa's] wider needs".

David Gallagher, chief contracting and procurement officer for NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), added that it carried out a "competitive tendering process" where CDDFT was named as the successful bidder.