MANAGERS at hospices in York and North Yorkshire say it is business as usual – despite warnings of funding cuts by a national charity.

Help The Hospices is warning that centres such as St Leonard’s Hospice, in York, and Martin House Children’s Hospice in Wetherby, could see the monies they get from central government reduced.

Jonathon Ellis, director of policy, said: “With the increasing pressure on public spending, we are concerned that the level of NHS funding will continue to be eroded, despite Government commitment to protect frontline services.”

A spokesman for St Leonard’s Hospice in York said the organisation had 20 per cent funding from central Government.

He said: “We are still committed to caring for people with life-threatening illnesses and we’re certainly not looking at retracting or retrenching.”

Aase Somerscale, head of finance and administration for Martin House children’s hospice in Wetherby, which receives 13 per cent of its annual income from the NHS said: “I can say that Martin House at the moment is able to balance its income and expenditure and that’s thanks to the public who support us through thick and thin. We are so grateful to them.”