PM announces £25 million cash injection to protect hospices and palliative care services which support around 200,000 people at the end of their lives
The future of hundreds of hospices and palliative care services which provide vital treatment and support for patients at the end of their life will now be protected thanks to a multi-million-pound funding boost from Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The Prime Minister today announces that £25 million will be pumped into the sector, building on funding already provided by the NHS.
The funding follows a reception hosted by the Prime Minister at Downing Street last week, to thank hospice front line staff for their work.
This new investment will help keep many of these facilities – which receive the majority of their funding from the voluntary sector – open and will also improve the quality of end of life care, ensuring people die as comfortably as possible. The money will also support the sector in relieving workforce pressures as well as introducing new services – such as out-of-hours support, respite care and specialist community teams.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
Today’s announcement follows campaigning from Chief Executive of Hospice UK Tracey Bleakley and its Chair Robert Peston. They recently met with Health Secretary Matt Hancock to discuss the pressures facing hospices - from falling fundraising and legacies to reduced local statutory support.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said:
The hospice care sector supports more than 200,000 people with terminal and life-limiting conditions in the UK each year, as well as supporting tens of thousands of family members with bereavement support.
In June, NHS England announced plans to increase the children’s hospice grant to £25 million by 2023/24, from £12 million in 2019/20.
Tracey Bleakley, Chief Executive, Hospice UK, said:
Robert Peston, Chair, Hospice UK, said:
Debbie Raven, CEO, Thames Hospice said: