THE oldest hospice in East Lancashire is to be given a new lease of life which should provide significant benefits for patients and their families.

Unlike most similar organisations, East Lancashire Hospice, in Park Lee Road, Blackburn, comes under the NHS.

While having its own chairman, chief executive and trustees, it is overseen by East Lancashire Primary Care Trust.

But moves are afoot to give the hospice independence from the PCT, possibly by early next year.

Hospice chairman Audrey Platt said: "This is not about privatisation and is not a wild idea or a maverick suggestion - 98 per cent of hospices in the UK are independently managed and they all receive financial support from their local NHS.

"We want to work closely with the likes of Pendleside and Rossendale hospices, as well as the health community in East Lancashire.

"Various NHS managers have all given us valuable support but the hospice has been a very small part of a large organisation.

"We feel that by transferring the management to the trustees, this would bring strength the management, and make decision-making and implementation quicker and more effective.

"The trustees are closer to, and have more knowledge of, the work of the hospice, and they are all strongly committed to it."

In recent years the hospice has been at the forefront of a number of care developments and has widened its palliative care service.

Back in 1984 when the hospice came into being it was the only one of its kind in East Lancashire and was named accordingly.

Today trustees are considering the merits of changing its name so it can be more easily identified with the areas it serves.

Hospice manager Lynne Stephenson added: "We want to build up our relationship with the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley communities."

Independence already works well for Pendleside Hospice and Rossendale Hospice, which work closely with, but separately from, the health service.

Like East Lancashire Hospice, Pendleside offers a day therapy service, carers support and a home visiting service, and covers the Burnley and Pendle areas.

The hospice has seven charity shops in Burnley, Brierfield, Nelson and Colne, and has fundraising groups in five locations.

Funding is a key issue for hospices - around two-thirds of East Lancashire's income comes from charitable contributions.

The remainder is provided by East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen PCTS.

It is these financial arrangements which need to be ironed out before the hospice can go it alone.

The hospice trustees agreed in principle to the change in January 2006 - but then PCTs in the area underwent a major reorganisation.

This summer the PCTs gave their backing to the independence moves and it is hoped that the switch will occur early in 2008.

The hospice, despite operating for more than 20-odd years, must also register separately with the Healthcare Commission.