Acorn's to close Walsall children's hospice due to rising costs
A hospice which helps some of West Midlands most poorly children and their families has been earmarked for closure.
Acorn's Children Hospice could close its Walsall branch which has been helping young people with terminal and life-limiting illnesses for 20 years.
Jobs are also at risk if the proposal goes through, but some staff could be offered work at Acorn's other facilities.
The charity says its begun a consultation with staff to stop offering services at the facility on Walstead Road because it's spending more than it's raising from its revenue streams.
In a report released today, bosses said:
The report also said that 'significantly more' was spent on delivering care than what was raised from the hospice's shops around the region.
Bosses blamed the current retail climate for the fall in income coming from Acorn's Children's Hospices' shops, as well as a sharp fall in the amount raised from money left in wills by supporters.
The report said that the money left in wills was £1.4 million less than 2018 and was the lowest it had been in years.
The charity's hospices in Worcester and Birmingham will remain open and bosses say those who rely on the Walsall branch will be supported in accessing help at the other facilities.
They anticipate that around two thirds of those who attend Walstead Road will be invited to receive residential stays in Birmingham and the other third in Worcester.
Walsall has been earmarked for closure due to geography, with Birmingham and Worcester being further apart and therefore serving larger areas.
The following reasons were also cited in the report:
Not purpose built for use by the charity originally
No hydrotherapy pool
Less land for development around the site due to 'green belt' status
Shortage of car parking spaces
The charity says it remains committed to helping families if the proposal is confirmed.
Families and those are affected have until the 3rd of July to give their views on the plan.