A charity volunteer and widower has started a petition to save the hospice who cared for his terminally ill wife because there “doesn’t seem to be an alternative”.

Terry Dean started the Save the Michael Sobell Hospice petition when he learned three weeks ago the charity’s inpatient service at Mount Vernon Hospital in Northwood had been relocated to the hospital’s cancer centre wards.

The charity published news on its website saying the inpatient part of the building had “reached the end of its useful life as major structural problems had emerged”.

Terry is concerned the move will affect overall palliative care to patients.

Watford Observer:

His wife, Jane, died four years ago aged 59 from bowel cancer. She spent her last few days at the hospice where Terry said she received “fabulous” care.

Since then, Terry, 67, from Ruislip, has volunteered at a warehouse for the charity collecting donations for its three shops in Ruislip, Northwood and Eastcote.

He said: “We were married for 28 years and we had first-hand experience of what the hospice can do.

“Jane requested to go there for the last few days of her life and she couldn’t have got that kind of attention at home.

“She a had huge box of drugs and equipment under the bed and not having people there who know what to do is scary.”

Terry and Jane met while touring on holiday in Greece and Crete and together they had two children, Emily, 25, and Nicholas, 29.

Terry added: “The hospice took fabulous care of her giving her everything she needed. They could not have done more.”

Terry started the petition because he said he feels “betrayed”, adding: “I am really trying to let the public give their opinion. It seems a common thing that hospices are being allowed to flounder.

“All these people put such effort into it and if we let this go we’ll be back to not having hospices. They sprung up for a good reason and people were moved enough to make huge sacrifices to get these things off the ground.”

Terry, who is a life-long engineer, added he did not think this latest proposal to move the inpatient service was in line with “Michael Sobell’s original vision” and that there “doesn’t seem to be an alternative” for other families.

He added: “The seed of this hospice is being frittered away and lost. It’s given us 40 years so why haven’t we planned for this moment?

“For the inpatients I am sure this is the last thing they would want - for their families to see them suffer. I feel betrayed by the system.”

Terry intends to formally present the petition results to the East & North Herts NHS Trust, adding: “I am trying to raise awareness of hospices - we need to fight for them because they are not being fought for by the people who are in charge of the money.”

A spokesperson for the MSHC board of trustess, said: "On behalf of Michael Sobell Hospice Charity we would like to thank our loyal and dedicated supporters for their continued support and commitment to the charity, in what is undoubtedly a difficult time for all concerned with the work of the charity.

"As a charity, we are committed to supporting quality palliative and end of life care for our Day Hospice patients, and those who are now being cared for in the main hospital. The charity continues to fund this care as we have always done.

"The board of trustees are taking into account the many views, comments and opinions currently being voiced and shared, and both welcome and value the very positive contributions from all of those who have signed the recent online petition. As we move forward to develop a future model of care for local people and their families in our community, we have a shared vision to ensure palliative care services continue to be freely available to those at a critical time of need.

"We will keep you regularly updated with our developments via the Charity’s website: www.michaelsobellhospice.co.uk"