SOCIAL services bosses could provide a vital lifeline to a beleaguered New Forest hospice for terminally and seriously-ill patients.

Hampshire County Council chiefs are looking to sink a share of £2.4m worth of government cash into Lymington's Oakhaven hospice.

Council leader Ken Thornber wants to see if the authority can enter into a partnership with Oakhaven to help tackle its £300,000 overspend.

In the meantime, Cllr Thornber has freed up a £5,000 cash boost for the hospice, which provides free care for 12 day-care and eight in-patients.

The famous nine-year-old hospice announc-ed last month that it faced an uncertain future - including staff redundancies - thanks to the cost of a refurbishment needed to meet EC standards.

Cllr Thornber says Hampshire's social services department could help out by using a slice of its government funding for new care schemes.

He told a meeting of his chief officers: "What I would like to do is to get social services involved because it seems to me the utilisation of Oakhaven is not by any means 100 per cent.

"I wonder whether with our very ill clients requiring respite care we might not seek to enter into some sort of partnership with them. It could be part of this "cash for change" initiative.

"We are always seeking beds whether for respite or for general care but the government is saying look for innovative ways in which we can meet the demands of the people of Hampshire.

"Here we have a hospice that gives treatment free. It seems to me that we might help with the cash flow and in principle we ought to be looking at this."

The council's director of social services Terry Butler indicated his support for the hospice in a report to the meeting saying: "Social services area staff say that it has been a superb resource both for the patients and their carers who welcome the respite when their relatives enter Oakhaven.

"Clearly Oakhaven needs to consider its longer term financial programme but any assistance which the county council gives would be well worthwhile."

Hospice chief executive Kara Bishop welcomed the support and said: "We are deeply indebted to the generosity of the council for their donation of £5,000. Every single penny counts.

"We are interested in talking to them and looking at exploring all sorts of partnership working. We are grateful that in principle they do want to work with us."

To help Oakhaven, contact Jayne Ashley on 01590 670346 or call at Oakhaven shops in Lymington, New Milton, Lyndhurst or Hythe.