Welsh Senedd elections 2026: Information for members

In order to make sure your engagement with political parties is balanced and your independence maintained you should reach out to all the parliamentary candidates for each of the main parties in your area.  

In practice this may sometimes be difficult to achieve, for example an event may be more manageable and focused if all minority parties are excluded. In certain circumstances you may decide not to invite a representative from a political party which advocates policies which are in contravention of the charity’s purposes, or whose presence or views are likely to alienate the charity’s supporters. 

If you decide to not invite a mainstream political party, there must be very strong reasons to support this decision. 

If you would like to discuss what constitutes ‘very strong reasons’ or ‘alienation of supporters’ in more detail, please feel free to get in touch with us at m.brindley@hospiceuk.org.  

You can promote your hospice’s views on issues related to palliative and end of life care and make calls directed at all candidates and political parties, to address specific issues.  

When doing this, you may find it helpful to refer to our joint Hospice UK and Hospices Cymru election manifesto priorities. 

It is acceptable to support a particular policy advocated by a political party or candidate, provided that you stress your independence. However, you must not endorse a party or candidate, because you agree with one policy. 

Equally you must not criticise an individual political party or candidate, and it is important to remain focused on the issues relevant to the hospice sector. 

It is very important that you remain impartial in this process, please refer to our briefing on election law, or get in touch with us at m.brindley@hospiceuk.org, if you would like more support on this issue.

Explain that demand for palliative and end of life care in Wales is soaring. Highlight that palliative care needs are forecast to rise by 25% over the next 25 years. 

Share any information you have on increasing need for end-of-life care or demographic changes in your area. For example, are you seeing more people with multiple conditions and complex needs? 

Hospices are a cornerstone of the Welsh healthcare system. Highlight the vital role hospice services have in supporting adults and children to stay at home, reducing hospital stays and delayed discharges, and easing pressure on the NHS.  

£30 million of charitable hospice funds are invested into the health and care system each year, and 20,000 adults and children are supported by hospices each year. 

Welsh hospices are struggling year on year to meet the rising costs of employing their expert staff and spiralling cost of living pressures. Almost every hospice in Wales is forecasting a deficit this financial year. 

Share how the cost of running your services has increased recently and where this has come from (e.g. staffing costs, energy). Figures, such as the % increase in your costs, can be impactful here. You may want to particularly emphasise the impact of keeping pace with NHS pay. 

Nearly 1 in 3 Welsh hospices are being forced to cut vital services, and over 70% of those with in-patient units agree that cost of living pressures are likely to result in one or more inpatient beds becoming temporarily or permanently unavailable. 

Tell your candidate about any changes to services or staffing you have had to make (or may make) as a result of rising costs. You could describe the impact that this will have on patients and families in your local area. 

Explain the funding streams your hospice has, how much is raised each year through charitable donations compared with statutory funding. 1/3 of hospice funding comes from government.  

Explain that it is vital the next Welsh government Establish a sustainable funding solution for Welsh hospices. 

Mention the funding challenges that put your service, and the support your hospice offers to the wider system, at risk.