A council has been urged to ensure all terminally ill residents “receive the end-of-life care they deserve”, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
The emotional plea was made by Councillor Chris Foote-Wood at a meeting of Durham County Council on Wednesday (December 10).
The Labour member for Barnard Castle sought support for the hospice movement, praising the positive impact the services have on people’s lives.
Cllr Foote-Wood said: “My late wife Frances and I were together for 40 years. We were a team, not only as life partners but in business and politics. Frances got terminal cancer, and sadly, she died, but she spent her last few days in a hospice where she was kept comfortable and pain-free. Isn’t that what we would want for our loved ones and ourselves?
“Some people do not get the end-of-life care that they surely have a right to, perhaps because of the lack of support or poverty.
“I want to make sure that all the terminally ill people in our care get the treatment that everyone deserves. I urge you to support these principles and the hospice movement.”
The plea was supported by Labour colleague Councillor Rob Crute, who called for all councillors to donate to Marie Curie or other charities which provide support to the terminally ill.
Cllr Foote-Wood’s appeal was welcomed by the Reform-led authority, as it creates a new Poverty Strategy for County Durham. The refreshed strategy aims to support the 112,000 residents living in absolute poverty across the region.
Durham County Council has administered more than £30.5 million through the Household Support Fund since 2022, aimed at reducing poverty and supporting vulnerable households.
From April 2026, a new, three-year Crisis and Resilience Fund will enable local authorities to support people facing immediate financial hardship and help households strengthen their financial resilience.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
Great idea, and these charities do so much good and make such a difference to people in this situation and their families.
I did have to smile at the comment ‘welcomed by the Reform-led authority, as it creates a new Poverty Strategy for County Durham. The refreshed strategy aims to support the 112,000 residents living in absolute poverty across the region’ who have just increased the council tax to those 112,000 residents