THE chief executive of Watford's Peace Hospice fears proposals to disband the trust which runs West Hertfordshire's community health services could damage the way the treatment of the terminally ill and those with life-threatening diseases is run.

West Hertfordshire Health Authority launched a consultation last week on dissolving West Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust as part of plans to form a new county-wide body for mental health, learning disability and community services.

It has been proposed that if Dacorum Primary Care Group (PCG) is given permission to become a Primary Care Trust (PCT), it should take over the employment and management of staff involved in the care of the terminally ill and those with life-threatening diseases in West Hertfordshire - known as palliative care.

Mr Graham Ball, chief executive of the Peace Hospice, fears five Macmillan nurses employed by the community trust to cover south west Hertfordshire, who are based at the Peace Hospice in Peace Drive, where they also advise staff looking after the terminally ill in the day centre, will be moved away.

He said: 'I think if the service is dismantled and moved to north Hertfordshire it will seriously effect the quality of care for patients.

'We have provided the Macmillan Nurses with accommodation for seven or eight years and meet with them weekly to discuss treatment methods. We would be devastated if they moved because we find it so helpful having them here.'

Mr Ball, who is arranging a meeting with managers of other hospices in the region to discuss the issue, added: 'I am worried this service will be run by an organisation which will put palliative care low down on its agenda.'

A spokeswoman for West Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust said there were only 11 Macmillan nurses serving west Hertfordshire and it had been trying to consolidate the service for some time.

She added: 'We have discussed it with staff and the chief executives of Dacorum PCG and Watford and Three Rivers PCG who support the idea.'

Ms Toni Horn, Dacorum PCG's chief executive, said there was a team of 15 involved in palliative care in west Hertfordshire which was just one community trust service which would have to be split between the new PCT's.

She added: 'But this is only a managerial proposal it is not a decision. There is absolutely no plan to change the way staff work and, if we do take over the management, Watford and Three Rivers PCT would say what they needed and buy the service from us.'

ccooley@london.newsquest.co.uk

'Our priority is to ensure continuity of care for patients.'

The community trust proposal is one of three subject to a three-month public consultation launched last week.

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