Marie Curie’s ‘Vital’ Overnight Care Contract in Lincolnshire Axed

Marie Curie, the charity renowned for providing end-of-life care, has expressed its devastation at the loss of a key contract in Lincolnshire. This essential overnight service had been supporting patients in their homes, but the Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has now decided not to renew the contract. The charity worries that patient care could suffer as a result of this decision, despite the ICB’s commitment to high-quality palliative and end-of-life care across the county. Over the past year, Marie Curie has cared for 275 patients and has served thousands in the past two decades. The loss of this service, which provided comfort and dignity to patients and their families, is a significant blow to the community. Despite lengthy discussions with the ICB about collaborative work with other providers, an agreeable solution could not be reached, leading to the discontinuation of the Marie Curie night service. The charity had requested a two-month extension to the contract, which expired on 31 March, to allow for staff consultation and ensure care continuity. The ICB has stated the service will continue until an end date is agreed upon. The Marie Curie Rapid Response Service, operating from 08:00 to 20:00, remains unaffected by these changes.