Health chiefs urged to 'listen' as St Clare's Hospice petition arrives in Parliament

Campaigners saw their petition calling for the reopening of Jarrow’s former St Clare’s Hospice site formally presented to Parliament on September 8.

Handing over the appeal, Kate Osborne, the town’s MP, insisted questions remain over why the building continues to sit empty more than a year since it closed after the charity collapsed into insolvency.

“St. Clare’s provided a vital service for three decades and its closure has had a devastating impact on our local community,” she said.

“The Primrose Terrace building was purpose built, peaceful and tranquil with beautiful views from each room.

“The building is ideal in my opinion and with the right plan in place, I strongly feel that there is no reason why a palliative care service cannot be restored to the former St. Clare’s site.

She added: “I have already told the decision makers there is such a strong level of public support to bring Palliative care back to Jarrow that they really must listen to the people of this area and what they actually want.”

NHS chiefs at South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have suggested the former Jarrow-based hospice charity could be replaced with a new ‘spoke and hub’ system offering more home and community care.

A hub could include inpatient beds, but plans have suggested the most likely location for this would be within or near South Tyneside District Hospital.

Bosses, who are expected to announce a decision later this month (September), hope such a move would alleviate staffing issues which troubled St Clare’s in its later years.

Matt Brown, the CCG’s executive director of operations, said: “It would be a mistake to recreate the same working model that struggled with safety, staffing and financial problems in the past.

“This would be a peaceful and dignified place, with homely private rooms.

“It’s also vital that it provides high quality medical care and does not repeat the safety issues that happened at St Clare’s.

“We need a location that makes it easier to attract skilled staff, and is accessible to families across the whole of South Tyneside.”

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