A MEETING will take place next week to discuss the progress of Grace's Place children’s hospice.

When Bury Hospice moved to its new premises in Rochdale Old Road two years ago, the idea was for a children's hospice to open at the Dumers Lane centre it was vacating.

The Government gave the new organisation a £507,000 grant for the facility to be renovated and, though that work has been done, bosses have failed to find the cash to staff it.

Several trustees have left the Grace's Place board in recent months and there was a further setback this week when Bury Hospice withdrew administration support.

A hospice source explained that, for at least a year, the hospice has employed a secretary to deal with enquiries and donations for Grace's Place, but there had been "limited discussion" on who would pay for that member of staff.

"There has been a lack of communication and it could not carry on forever," said the source.

He added: "Originally, Bury Hospice was to be involved in the formation of Grace's Place, but along the way, there was a realisation that Grace's Place had to be its own entity in order to stand the best possible chance of success, for example, when applying for grants.

"There has been a disentanglement of the hospice and Grace's Place and the withdrawal of admin support is part of that."

It is understood that Bury South MP Ivan Lewis has called a private meeting on the progress of Grace's Place and it is due to take place next week.

Supporters have previously raised fears that Grace's Place might never open.

Though a £1 million fundraising appeal was launched in late 2013, only £168,000 had been raised by May last year.

A spokesman for Mr Lewis's office said: "Ivan has called the meeting, which is taking place at Bury NHS Clinical Commissioning Group.

"The aim of the meeting is to discuss the progress of Grace's Place and to see if any action can be taken to assist with that progress."