Iceland cash hospice may cut help

Holly George was cared for by the hospice home service

A Hampshire children's hospice says it may suspend a new service offering care at home because of uncertainty over �5.7m invested in an Icelandic bank.

Naomi House, in Sutton Scotney, is still waiting to find out how much of its investment with Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander will be returned.

Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke, told the BBC she had had "no response from the Treasury at all".

Hospice chief executive, Ray Kipling, said the home service was "in peril".

He said a new �12m hospice due to be built for teenagers and young people was also under threat.

Obviously when you've got a child with life-limiting conditions, you can't actually just leave them on their own, like with a neighbour or a member of your family

Sue George

"We've got enough money to build it, we need enough money to run it," he said.

"Again, that's in peril but that is the summer of next year. The hospice at home service is in peril now."

One family who used the home service said it had proved vital during a family crisis.

Six-year-old Holly George was looked after by the hospice when her father, Andy, developed appendicitis.

Her mother, Sue, said: "Obviously when you've got a child with life-limiting conditions, you can't actually just leave them on their own, like with a neighbour or a member of your family.

"So my initial call was straight through to Naomi House, 'please can you help'."

When details emerged of the troubled Icelandic banks, Naomi House staff contacted the government to try to clarify whether the sum was protected - but was unsuccessful.

"Despite continued efforts and pressure to resolve the situation, Naomi House is growing ever more concerned that this is now looking unlikely," a spokesman said.