Mr Hunter began his question to the Prime Minister by bringing to his attention the fact that St Ann's Hospice, based in Heald Green in Mr Hunter's constituency has to raise a massive £16,000 each day to continue providing the services it does to the local community. He then went on to remind the Prime Minister that currently the Government only provides one third of the money that hospices need to run the services which are part of the Government's End of Life Care Strategy.
This question came as part of Mr Hunter's campaign to raise awareness of the funding shortfalls that many hospices all around the country are facing, which is supported not only by local hospice St Ann's but by the respected national charity Help the Hospices. He had recently raised the issue and taken part in a debate in the House of Commons, where he had challenged the Minister over cuts in real terms funding.
Mr Hunter, speaking after Prime Minister's Questions said, "I am delighted that the Prime Minister has agreed to my request to meet with an all party delegation to discuss what might be done to improve funding for hospices.
