 St Margaret's Hospice wants greater funding for elderly care |
One of Scotland largest hospices has called for more state funding. St Margaret's Hospice, Clydebank, said it was struggling to raise the �30,000 it needs each week to provide palliative care.
The majority of Scotland's hospices are run by charitable organisations with up to half of costs met by health boards and the remainder from donations.
St Margaret's Hospice wants 85% funding because there is "great pressure" on the charity sector.
'Die with dignity'
Sister Rita Dawson, chief executive of the hospice, said: "I believe the government should be doing much more to help charities, to support us and to help us so we're not constantly having to go out and raise that money.
"I really feel very angry with them.
"One day they will be old themselves and would like to be treated with dignity and respect.
"I want them to do something and to do it now."
The hospice is in discussions with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde over funding.
In the past year it has had to raise �1.7m and received a further �1.5m from the health board.
Edward McGuigan, vice-chairman of the hospice board, said: "It is particularly difficult to fund raise at the moment as there is great pressure on the charity sector.
"The health board have been very helpful and very supportive but they are under huge pressure.
"It is necessary for the hospice movement as a whole to get more funding.
"It is a very serious problem, we cannot live on fresh air.
"Sooner or later the executive or society will have to sit down and try to address this."
Agnes Burns' mother recently died at the hospice.
 Clydebank's St Margaret's Hospice raises �30,000 a week |
She said: "Everyone deserves to die with dignity and for families to see that is a tremendous comfort.
"As a society, we ought to be thinking much more seriously about the hospice.
"It's a disgrace that so much of the money has to be raised by people who are exhausting themselves."
A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said: "NHS boards are expected to provide 50% of hospices agreed costs.
"This is far more than other voluntary sector organisations receive and is probably the best level of funding for hospices in the UK.
"In fact we believe the majority of hospices do not want more than 50% state funding.
"As the chair of the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care has made clear, this arrangement allows hospices to remain independent and set their own priorities."
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It is a very serious problem, we cannot live on fresh air
