Hospice UK has today welcomed the announcement of the allocation of the remaining £75m of additional government funding for the hospice sector in England, following the announcement late last year of an £100m funding package.
Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK says: “The announcement in late in 2024 of £100m in capital funding for hospices was welcome recognition from the Government of the immense pressure facing hospices, and their urgent need for more financial support.
“We were pleased to distribute the first £25m of this funding early this year. We know this money has made a huge difference to hospices and the next £75m will continue to help them invest in their buildings, facilities, and digital infrastructure.
“While this one-off investment has been very welcome, it’s critical that we continue to work with government to secure long-term reform to ensure hospice care is there for everyone who needs it, whoever and wherever they are.
“The Government has just emphasised the importance of hospices in their 10 year plan for the NHS and the role they can play in shifting care from hospitals into the community. With the right support, there is so much more they can do to realise the vision set out in the 10-year plan. We look forward to working with Government to make this a reality.”
The capital funding is designed to help hospices improve their physical environment, improve efficiency by investing in digital technology, and increase hospices’ capacity to care for patients at home.
The announcement of additional funding came following sustained campaigning by Hospice UK will help alleviate budget pressures in the sector.
Jo Carby, Chief Executive of Wigan & Leigh Hospice said: “The capital funding from the Government has been a big help. The financial challenges we and many other hospices have faced in recent years mean it has been difficult to prioritise building projects, as all of our efforts have been focused on protecting patient care.
“The funding we received means we can fix our leaking roof and we plan to replace our outdated heating system this year - keeping our hospice building warm, dry and comfortable.
“We know what a huge difference hospice services make - keeping care in the community, making it more likely that people can die in the place of their choosing, as well as reducing hospital admissions and helping people to get home from hospital sooner. We hope this funding will be the first step towards long-term reform of funding for palliative and end of life care.”
Jeremy Lune, CEO of Prospect Hospice in Swindon said: “We are genuinely grateful for the capital funding payment that Wes Streeting has enabled for hospices. This financial year, Prospect Hospice will receive £380,937 - welcome support that will be fully used to replace our 35-year-old heating and hot water system, which has now failed completely.
“While we hugely appreciate this investment, it does not address the urgent and ongoing need for sustainable funding of specialist community care - an ambition central to the aims of the NHS’s 10-year plan. Right now, we are only able to provide that care thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our local community. We look forward to working with the Government on long-term funding reform to secure sustainable, high-quality hospice care for all who need it.”
Steph Edusei, Chief Executive of St Oswald’s hospice in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, said: "This funding is extremely welcome and will allow us to further improve patient facilities as well as offset some planned costs for this year which should help us to become even more efficient and effective in future.
However, we have ongoing pressures on our budget which we won't be able to use this funding for. We are looking forward to seeing how the Government will recognise the importance of equitable access to palliative and end of life care, and ensure that it is funded appropriately."
Wayne Gale, CEO of Hospiscare in Devon said: “The government allocation of £75 million in capital funding for the UK’s hospices provides a welcome opportunity for us to invest in our facilities, infrastructure and technology, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact for our patients and their loved ones.
“However, like many hospices nationwide, the fundamental challenge we face is in covering our day-to-day costs in light of rising prices and wages and soaring demand for our care.
“Our hospice provides essential high-quality care for local people at the end of their lives but relies on voluntary donations for our community to cover almost 80% of our costs. If we are to safeguard our services for the future, we must work together with the government to create a sustainable funding model for the nation’s hospices before it’s too late.”
Hospice UK continues to work with the Government to secure long-term reform of how end of life and palliative care services, including those delivered by hospices, are funded.
For hospices with questions or queries about the funding, please email nhsegrants@hospiceuk.org.
