Merger 'will secure' hospice charity’s long term future

A Bedfordshire based hospice charity says its long term future has been secured after it announced plans to merge with a nearby larger hospice.

Bedford Daycare Hospice, which has a site in Bedford, is to link up with the larger Keech Hospice Care, which runs a Luton based hospice and offers support in homes, hospitals and schools across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes.

A factor in the merger has been to secure the future of Bedford Daycare Hospice. According to the Charity Register its income for the year ending March 2022 was £596,956 and it spent £507,915. The charity had 26 staff members and 60 volunteers, its entry in the register adds.

Meanwhile, Keech’s income for the same financial year was £15.87m, and its spending totalled £10.96m. It employs 273 staff and has a 1,466 strong volunteer network.

The charities say that all jobs “will remain secure” and both its hospice sites will remain open and in their current locations.

In addition, their charity shops “will continue to operate as normal”.

Bedford Daycare Hospice chair Donald Parsons said: “Over the years, sustaining the charity has sometimes been challenging. However, we are delighted to be merging with Keech Hospice Care, a charity that shares our vision and values.

“By merging together there is a bright and secure future and the opportunity to continue to expand services for our local community.”

Keech Hospice Care chief executive Liz Searle will remain in the same role at the newly merged charity and the board of trustees will include representatives from both charities.

“Merging the two organisations will help us reach and support more patients throughout our community and attract and retain outstanding clinical professionals, staff and volunteers,” said Searle.

“Both hospices are already well-known for the outstanding quality of care they provide. The merger serves to strengthen and enhance our current range of services and our combined efforts will ensure even more people in our community benefit from them.”