North London Hospice is delighted that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, has today unveiled a much-needed package of support to England’s financially ailing hospice sector. With most hospices already making difficult financial decisions and some having already made cuts to services and staff, the promised income, described by the government as the ‘biggest investment in a generation’ is a significant and welcome boost following months of campaigning by hospices and Hospice UK.
At a visit to Haven House Children’s Hospice in Woodford Green, Wes Streeting announced a £100 million package for adult and children’s hospices over the next two years “to ensure they have the best physical environment for care” and confirmed that what has been known as the Children’s Hospice Grant will be extended and increased to £26m for the 25/26 financial year. These announcements follow similar commitments in recent weeks of financial support to hospices in Scotland and Wales.
The allocated funding for adult and children’s hospices is to be spent on improving buildings, equipment, accommodation, IT systems, facilities and outdoor spaces. It will also help to develop and improve outreach services to support people in their own homes when needed, meaning that donations and other raised funds can be dedicated to patient care.
North London Hospice CEO Declan Carroll commented, “With running costs of over £16 million per year and growing demand, we know that we will still be very much reliant on donations and fundraising to keep providing all our services, but this is a significant step and one for which we are very grateful.
“This announcement will make a big difference to the hospice sector and will allow us to invest in our future. It reflects the enormous contribution that hospices make to their communities and their value to the UK’s wider healthcare provision. It will allow us to continue reaching the many people who need our care and keep ensuring that our community receives the best of life at the end of life.
“We look forward to hearing more in the new year about how we can use this funding to create a better care environment for our patients.”
