The future of an outreach clinic for patients with terminal illnesses hangs in the balance after news that a decision over funding will not be made until July.

Funding for the Manorlands clinic from Craven and Harrogate Rural District Primary Care Trust ran out in April, leaving the charity to pick up the tab in the meantime.

About 12 people attend the clinic each week at Skipton general hospital.

Among them are 87-year-old Kathleen Morrow, of Brougham Street, Skipton, and 80-year-old Betty Woods of Cross Hills, who fear they face having to stay at home or travelling to the Manorlands clinic at Oxenhope if the Skipton project closes.

Mrs Woods, who has a liver problem, said: "I really look forward to this day it's the only day of the week I get out.

"If it is closed, I would lose so much. Oxenhope is too far for me to travel."

And Mrs Morrow, whose cancer is in remission, said: "It must carry on. I couldn't travel to Oxenhope and this day centre offers so much.

"We are assessed medically by a doctor, there are nurses here and we enjoy lots of activities."

Manorlands bosses are hoping cash support will be renewed by the PCT after the £6,000 funding for the six month long project ran out at the end of March.

It has left the Sue Ryder charity burdened with the full financial cost of the one-day-a-week clinic.

The charity estimates it will cost in the region of £14,000 to continue the service for the next six months.

Sue Hesse, hospice manager, said: "I'm not being critical of the trust, I know the pressures they are under, but we want to continue running the service, it has proved to be so useful."

The deal they had struck with the trust was that it would provide £6,000 towards the service and provide the accommodation at Skipton hospital.

"We don't want to pull the plug on the service which has provided a high level of satisfaction from people attending.

"In the past some people in Craven have felt very isolated and this gives them the chance to mix socially.

"If we are to continue we will need some financial help from the trust," she said.

Manorlands, which caters for 248 in-patients a year, costs about £2 million to run. Over half has to be found by fund-raisers and volunteers.

A spokesman for the trust said: "We are to hold a meeting in the near future because we are aware that the funding has come to an end and we need to address that situation quite soon."

e.mail:clive.white@bradford.newsquest.co.uk