Will you write to your MP about the hospice funding crisis?
Our Chief Executive Giles shares a letter to our supporters.
“As you may know, I came to this role at St Catherine’s 10 years ago after my best friend had received our care – dying at just 44 and since then, several of my other friends have received care and support from hospices (each dying before they were 55). Like many of you, I know close up and personal the value of the quality care our wonderful teams provide. I see our team’s effort and drive every day and I know of it from feedback I receive from dying people and their families.
Throughout the UK, the most significant funding for UK hospices comes from local people like you, whose generous support – through your donations of money, time and commitment – make it all possible.
Recognising the difference you make to us and the importance you place in our work, I wanted to provide you with an outline of the broader, national picture around hospice funding and how this impacts us here at St Catherine’s.
Currently hospice services across the UK are at some risk and Hospice UK – the national champion for all UK hospices – has recently highlighted that the hospice sector as a whole is facing a £77 million income shortfall this year alone.
As a hospice supporter I know this is probably hard to hear but if you would like to do something to help, please support us and the Hospice UK’s write to your MP campaign to let your local MP know about the UK hospice funding crisis. It takes just a few minutes of your time to show them how much hospice care matters. With hundreds of new MPs in place, this is your opportunity to become part of a national conversation and a call for change.
In January this year an All Party Parliamentary Group report on end of life care called for the Government to conduct a review of hospice funding ‘with the aim of developing a sustainable funding solution for this essential sector’.
In the meantime, many hospices are needing to make tough decisions about their services and what they can realistically afford to provide for their communities. We have already heard of cuts/changes made at Rowan’s Hospice in Portsmouth, Birmingham Hospice and St Raphael’s in Cheam and more news is expected.
Sadly, after several years of high inflation, I need you to know that we are not immune to these same concerns here at St Catherine’s.
Alongside the wonderful contribution of donors like you, we receive statutory funding. Currently, around 28% of our funding comes from the NHS. Over the 10 years I’ve been in post, this funding has remained static despite rising costs. This means our statutory funding covers less of our costs than it did previously – whilst almost all of our costs are increasing.
Despite our best efforts and continued support from our community, we’re projecting that our fundraising and retail income won’t keep pace with the increase in our costs so in consultation with staff, we’re having to make some tough decisions to scale down our work to protect the future of end of life care in our community.
We’ve already made significant changes to our telephone advice line service and our therapies support and more changes in our community services will be made in the Autumn.
We are committed to running the same level of inpatient services on our wards and won’t be reducing this, continuing to operate the 12 beds currently open on our Meadow and Woodland wards, although sadly, we won’t be able to increase the number of beds available at the moment (our capacity is 24 beds). Like me, I know you will feel disheartened and disappointed receiving this difficult news.
Please remember if you would like to help, support us and Hospice UK’s write to your MP campaign to let your local MP know about the UK hospice funding crisis.
I also want to reassure you that we remain committed to our ambition to provide vital care and support for local people living with a terminal or life-limiting condition.
We’re exploring how we could work more effectively with local GP and district nursing services, and are currently in discussions with NHS leaders on this matter, and we’ll know more in September. We’re also doing all we can to ensure that all those facing the end of their lives will do so with the very best care available from St Catherine’s and/or from those NHS partners we currently work with day to day. While the NHS is under pressure, its services remain central for all our care in all settings and we work closely and well with them all.
We know we’re incredibly lucky to be providing our valued services from our new state-of-the-art hospice in Pease Pottage.
And our increasing costs are not a result of our new building, which was completed successfully thanks to the generosity of people like you, who collectively raised £19.5 million to pay for it all. Every patient and family using the new building have appreciated our new facilities which ensure we’re better placed to serve future generations and respond to changing care needs as our local population ages in the years ahead.
Importantly, remember, your generosity has ensured better care and support for local people when it’s needed most. Whilst I’m saddened that inflationary pressure has and will hurt us, I’m enormously indebted and encouraged by the continuing loyalty of you and so many other supporters like you. Will you take a few minutes to remind your MP how much hospice care matters – to you and all of our community?
With my warmest regards at this difficult time,
Giles Tomsett
P.S. You and all our supporters are very important to St Catherine’s so I want you to understand our position and our continued commitment to care for families in our community who need us. I hope you will give what you can, when you can, as we continue to provide expert end of life care whilst navigating our way through this difficult time.
