Peter Kelsey, md and owner of Designer Contracts, has donated £50,000 to the Ashgate Hospice ‘Save a Precious Bed’ appeal.
It represents a significant contribution towards the hospice’s aim of raising £244,000 to keep two beds open for six months, helping around 25 patients.
Peter said: “We have long supported Ashgate Hospice which is currently facing an acute financial crisis following a £2.6 million shortfall in NHS funding. The hospice provides a vital service to the whole of the North Derbyshire area and relies heavily on donations and fundraising.”
Ashgate recently announced proposals to reduce inpatient beds further and make changes to services and team structures because of the scale of its funding gap. The appeal aims to protect specialist inpatient care at a time when the hospice is having to consider the most difficult decisions in its history.
Peter, whose company is the UK’s largest flooring contractor, announced the donation at the hospice’s black-tie ball on November 14. It follows a gift of £100,000 in 2019 to help fund Ashgate’s ‘Three Bedded Bay’ appeal and other significant donations over the past five years. In 2023 he was made a patron of the hospice, in recognition of the company’s long-time support of the charity.
Said Jack Wood, director of income generation for Ashgate: “At a time that has been the hardest in Ashgate’s history, Peter Kelsey’s incredible £50,000 pledge to our appeal is a truly remarkable act of generosity.
“Alongside the support from so many other people and organisations, it is helping us protect the specialist inpatient care that thousands of people across North Derbyshire rely on.
“This gift will keep these beds open for at least the next six months, allowing our dedicated staff to continue providing the dignity, comfort and expert care people need at the end of their lives. Every pound raised over our target will help keep the beds open for even longer, giving vital stability to both patients and the teams who care for them at a time of unprecedented pressure.
“We are deeply grateful to Peter, Designer Contracts and everyone who has contributed. Their support, especially during such a difficult year for our hospice, gives us hope and strength as we work to protect care for our community now and in the months ahead.”
