A LEADING charity in the field of end of life and palliative care has given notice to Fife Health and Social Care Partnership that they will not tender for future contracts meaning that the current provision will come to an end in May this year.

Marie Curie provide families in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area who have people suffering from cancer with a lot of support.

The charity also has a very popular charity shop on Cowdenbeath High Street.

Marie Curie who provide vital care for people with palliative care needs and their families, were asked to submit a tender to continue to provide end of life care services across Fife, but have said they believe that the economic values applied in the tender are ‘unrealistic and restrictive’ and have therefore ‘taken the difficult decision not to submit a bid to this tender for the palliative care services lot’.

In a letter to Kelty based MSP, Alex Rowley, the charity raises concern about the contract and states: “With the maximum hourly rates quoted, and no margin for extending these, we do not believe appropriate levels of quality care can be provided to achieve these End of life Care levels as the charity pulls out of Fife objectives”.

And: “The rates quoted would not allow Marie Curie to retain a sustainable, highly trained and experienced workforce that could deliver on the ambition of the tender objective”.

Mr Rowley has discussed the issues with the Health and Social Care Partnership and has now written to every councillor in Fife asking them to hold the Partnership to account and question the concerns being raised.

Speaking to the Times he said: “This is a worrying development where it would seem cuts to budgets are being passed on in these vital services.

"End of life care and support should be of the best standard and quality and when we have an organisation with the expertise and experience of Marie Curie telling us that this new contract cannot deliver this then we need to demand that the managers in health and social care think again”.