We believe every child and adult in Wales affected by dying, death, and bereavement deserves the best possible care. But increasing demand and rising costs are putting this care at risk.
We are calling on the next Welsh Government to:
1. Establish a sustainable funding solution for Welsh hospices, so more people receive the support they need closer to home
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Fully fund the essential specialist care provided by hospices: Stop relying on charitable funding for critical care and make essential hospice services a guaranteed part of healthcare provision.
Guarantee hospice staff have pay parity with NHS colleagues: Establish a national mechanism to ensure hospices can recruit and retain skilled staff by keeping pace with NHS pay awards.
Apply consistent hospice contracting arrangements: Replace short-term agreements with five-year contracts. Include biannual reviews, guaranteed pay, and inflation-linked increases to align hospice services with NHS standards and strengthen workforce stability.
2. Tackle inequalities in palliative and end of life care across Wales, especially in rural areas and for those facing financial hardship
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Improve data collection to address inequalities: As many as 1 in 4 people, who could benefit from palliative and end of life care, do not receive appropriate support. Better data is needed to understand their needs and provide more targeted and appropriate services.
Create a National Commissioning Framework for Palliative and End of Life Care: Guided by better data, design and commission services that proactively reach individuals and communities who are least likely to access existing care and support.
Improve financial support for people with a terminal illness: Welsh Government should include people living with a terminal illness in the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, ensure they and their carers have a minimum standard of welfare and social security advice, and provide consistent travel and accommodation support to access care.
3. Drive innovation and improve quality of care by collaborating with hospices, improving regulation, and building a resilient workforce
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Strengthen partnership working to meet local need: Support the development of a national hospice–Health Boardpartnerships model,based on equal decision-making and shared accountability aimed at driving innovation and improving access to services.
Streamline the regulatory regime for hospice care in Wales: Address inefficiencies and duplication in Health Inspectorate Wales and Care Inspectorate Wales regulation by exploring tailored regulatory approaches in partnership with the hospice sector.
Build a resilient palliative care workforce: Develop a palliative and end of life care workforce plan so there are the right staff, in the right place, with the right skills to meet growing demand.
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The challenge before us is stark. Demand for palliative and end of life care in Wales is soaring at a time when nearly 1 in 3 Welsh hospices are being forced to cut vital services.
Hospices are a cornerstone of Wales’ healthcare system. They support over 20,000 children and adults affected by terminal illness each year, easing pressure on the NHS and providing vital, compassionate support in the community.
But they face major challenges. Palliative care needs are forecast to rise by 25% over the next 25 years.
At the same time, Welsh hospices are struggling year on year to meet the rising costs of employing their expert staff and spiralling cost of living pressures.
Nearly every hospice in Wales is forecasting a deficit this financial year.
This is unsustainable.
We need urgent action to continue delivering the best care, now and in the future.
