Supporting You Through Life

13 January

A nationwide survey last month found that around 30% of hospices in the UK have suffered cuts in their statutory funding in 2010. Despite an extra £150m in state funding being injected into hospice and palliative care in 2010 – 2011 by means of the End of Life Care Strategy, hospices across the country are losing out.

The survey, conducted by Help the Hospices and The National Council for Palliative Care, examined the funds being made available to over 100 adult palliative care providers in England. A third of these providers reported that they were aware of cuts already impacting upon local palliative services.

With an ageing population, an increase in demand for their services in the near future seems set to put further strain on the palliative and hospice care sectors, already stretched as they are. Both Help the Hospices and The National Council for Palliative Care are pushing for the Palliative Care Funding Review to take steps towards developing a sustainable, long term means of providing the necessary funding for these vitally important services.

Jonathan Ellis, director of public policy and parliamentary affairs at Help the Hospices, commented:

"This survey reinforces the need for a fair and transparent system of funding for hospices that recognises the true value of the care hospices provide to people facing the end of life, and their friends and family.
 
"It is concerning that nearly 30% of hospices surveyed have already had their statutory funding cut this year and it is frustrating that in many areas the extra funding allocated to hospice and palliative care is still not getting through to frontline services. While the palliative care funding review is looking at this, the government must take responsibility for making sure that hospice and palliative care remains an integral part of the health and social care reform agenda."

Help the Hospices is the UK’s leading charity supporting hospice care across the country. They enable local hospices to provide much-needed care for more people by providing advice, information and financial support. Help the Hospices also has an international programme that supports the development of hospice and palliative care worldwide, particularly in developing countries.

For more information, visit www.helpthehospices.org.uk/  Alternatively, call 020 7520 8200 or email info@helpthehospices.org.uk