Loss of NHS funding and rising costs force cancer charity to close

A nurse-led cancer support charity is to close, after helping patients and families for 38 years, following the loss of “long-standing NHS funding, combined with rising operational costs”.

The Wirral based Holistic Cancer Centre says these financial pressures have “made it impossible to sustain our building” and after exploring “every option” it says it is “no longer viable” to continuing operating at its current premises.

The charity said that “this closure is not a failure” and is instead “a thoughtful and dignified ending to a service that has always prioritised quality, safety and holistic care”.

It added: “We are deeply grateful to the staff, volunteers, patients, families and community members who have shaped the Centre’s extraordinary 38 year legacy. Your trust, kindness and support have made this work possible.

“We want to give heartfelt thanks to our nurses, therapists and centre based volunteers, many of whom have dedicated years — and in some cases decades — to supporting people affected by cancer. Their commitment has been the heartbeat of the Centre.

“We also want to recognise and thank our administrative staff, whose dedication has quietly underpinned every aspect of the Centre’s work.

“Over many years, they have ensured the smooth running of our service — managing appointments, supporting patients and families, coordinating therapists, handling complex paperwork, keeping our systems organised and offering a warm welcome at the front desk.”

The charity has also confirmed that its charity shop in Moreton will also “sadly be closing”.

“This shop has been far more than a retail space — it has been a lively, friendly social hub at the heart of the community,” said the Centre.

“Our two shop managers have created a warm, welcoming environment where people could chat, connect and feel supported. Their dedication has made the shop a cherished part of local life.”

According to the Charities Register the charity’s spending has outstripped its income in two of the last three years. Its latest filed accounts show it earned £210,830 in the 12 months to March 2025, but its expenditure over this period was £218,440.