Government national investment welcomed yet continued need for future help 

20 Dec 2024 | View all news

The government announced a £100 million capital investment nationally for hospices yesterday. In response, our CEO, Dr Richard Soulsby, has issued the following statement:

It is extremely positive news that there will be a short-term injection of £100 million into hospices across the country which will support much needed capital projects – such as building refurbishments and IT systems.

This signals positive intent from the government to ensure high quality palliative care is given to patients, their families and loved ones.

It is much appreciated that in the first few weeks of her new role, our local MP for Stafford, Eccleshall and Villages Leigh Ingham, took time to visit the hospice and then raised the issues we discussed at the highest level of government.

The Secretary of State has heard concerns raised by us and the wider hospice sector, and the government has recognised the hugely positive impact of hospices and our vital role within our communities in delivering outstanding compassionate care at end of life.

As the need for hospice care is projected to substantially increase and hospices face financial challenges like never before, an injection of funds to improve Katharine House Hospice’s buildings and equipment is much appreciated.

This does not resolve the issue of longer-term sustainability of hospices and with employers’ costs rising at 10% per annum for the last three years, revenue funding is still needed for day-to-day expenses.

Further details on the funding arrangements will be given in the new year, and we will learn what projects will be eligible for funding.

Work is ongoing at national level through Hospice UK – a hospices membership organisation – to explain the difficulties of hospice funding to ministers.

Katharine House Hospice’s problems stem directly from the massive underinvestment by Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board and its predecessor NHS commissioners in hospice services across the county.

The funding increase of 1.7% this year was the first increase in 10 years and was wholly inadequate in addressing the 10% increase in wage costs in this year alone.

The government has made a commitment to ensuring every person has access to high-quality end of life care, and research estimates one in four people who are dying nationally¹ are not receiving the palliative care they need.

This £100 million capital investment is very welcome, but it does need to be a first step by government to the creation of a sustainable hospice government funding model.

We hope this spotlight on funding and the need for access to better palliative care ultimately helps us support more families who need us from day one of diagnosis.

We continue to be ever grateful to our community, for their ongoing support that has enabled us to deliver expert, compassionate care for the past 35 years.

Read the government announcement.