Children’s hospices across the South have welcomed a government pledge of £80M in new funding over the next three years.
The money will be shared nationally through local NHS Trusts.
But there’s concern that adult hospices are still facing a serious funding shortfall across our region.
Hospices across the South are facing increasing financial pressure as rising costs and flat funding threaten the care they provide. Many rely heavily on charitable donations to cover day-to-day expenses, but fundraising has become more difficult since the pandemic, with public giving and corporate support both declining.
At the same time, running costs have soared. Energy prices remain high, and staff wages have had to rise to keep pace with inflation and national pay expectations across the NHS. Unlike hospitals, hospices are mostly independent charities, and although they receive some funding from the NHS, it typically covers only around a third of their total costs. The rest must be raised through donations, charity shops, and community events, all of which are under strain.
Recruitment and retention are also significant challenges. Hospices compete with the NHS for nurses and specialist palliative care staff but often cannot match NHS salaries or benefits. This has led to growing vacancies, heavier workloads for remaining staff, and in some cases, reduced services.
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