Hospice Services: Support

She thanked the shadow Minister for her speech and agreed with the points raised. Abena Oppong-Asare, patron of Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice, emphasised the vital role hospices play in communities and urged the Government to recognise their challenges, especially during the pandemic and cost of living crisis.

I thanked my hon. Friend for securing the debate and acknowledged Rowans Hospice's great work in the Havant constituency, expressing gratitude to fundraising and support groups alongside full-time staff.

I discussed the challenges faced by Teesside Hospice, including recruitment difficulties. I suggested that a fundamental reset of the economic settlement for hospices is necessary rather than asking staff to tighten their belts.

I am concerned about the lack of funding for hospices, especially given that they rely heavily on local communities and fundraising. The cost of living crisis is putting pressure on charitable donations, making it difficult to maintain operations and recruit staff. Brian House Children's Hospice in Blackpool has seen a significant cut in grant funding, which is already one of the children's hospices with the least Government funding.

Hospices such as Bolton Hospice, Wigan and Leigh Hospice, and Derian House Children's Hospice are vital community services. They rely on fundraising but face challenges during economic downturns. The speaker asks the Minister to support integrated care systems in maintaining their relationship with local hospices.

The hon. Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch highlighted that the uplift given to local NHS commissioning groups is not making it through to end of life services, calling for recognition from the Minister and enforcement to ensure funding reaches these essential services.

St Christopher's Hospice faces a £15 million annual funding gap due to rising costs and potential decline in donations amid the cost of living crisis. I suggested that the Government review the current funding model.

I acknowledged Rowans Hospice's plans to increase bed capacity from 19 to 22 and noted the associated £130,000 annual cost. I suggested that government support is needed for this expansion.

The MP visited Tapping House Hospice and noted its support for over 1,000 families annually. He highlighted the rising energy costs by 36% and the fact that only 30% of services are funded through NHS with the rest from donations. The event Tulips for Tapping raised more than £140,000 but NHS funding has not increased in two years.

I noted that a significant portion of hospice income is raised through fundraising activities and expressed gratitude towards volunteers who contribute to these efforts. He thanked all charities, groups, and staff providing hospice care. He pointed out that hospices across the UK are budgeting for a £186 million deficit this year due to rising costs from energy, food prices, and staff costs. He called on the Government to provide more funding beyond just the energy bills discount scheme, stressing the importance of sustainable funding for hospice care.

Paying tribute to East Lancashire Hospice, Kate Hollern highlighted the financial strain hospices are under due to rising costs and decreasing donations. She stated that hospices face a £186 million collective budget deficit and called for £30 million in immediate Government funding to offset energy bills and an additional £102 million to match NHS pay rises.

I share the optimism for hospice services despite their challenges. I highlight Rowcroft Hospice's multimillion-pound investment and development programme that includes a new nursing home, village hall, restaurant, allotments, children's nursery, and estate workshop. This expansion will benefit not only Rowcroft but also Torbay's entire health and social care sector. I ask the Minister to consider additional options for support with costs faced by hospices and what support will be provided to hospices looking to expand their services.

The MP highlighted the need for a comprehensive debate on end-of-life care, emphasizing that hospices are essential parts of the health and care system. She called for a review of funding mechanisms to ensure security and certainty for hospices facing significant financial pressures. Liz Kendall also raised concerns about inequalities in access to hospice care and the issue of people dying in hospitals despite wanting to die at home.

I express gratitude towards those who work in hospices and highlight the challenges they face due to inflation, especially wage inflation. The Government's lack of a proper workforce plan is not helping the situation, yet St Cuthbert's Hospice continues to run at 100% satisfaction despite these difficulties. I urge the Minister to address the energy costs facing hospices and ensure that end-of-life care receives priority.

I highlighted the financial challenges faced by St Joseph's Hospice, which faces a £470,000 shortfall for nurse payments and an additional half million pounds annually without funding certainty. I urged the Minister to provide clarity on this matter.

He spoke about the personal impact of hospice care, including the case of Liz Quinn and his friend Melanie. He highlighted the financial challenges faced by hospices due to rising costs and the need for increased government support, citing a potential deficit of £186 million this year. Patrick Grady also noted the importance of recognising staff shortages and the impact of Brexit on the health sector.

Peter Gibson, a trustee of North Yorkshire Hospice Care, emphasised the need for sustainable funding for hospices. He cited a deficit of £541,000 at St Teresa's Hospice in Darlington and highlighted that hospices save money for the NHS while providing essential care. Gibson urged integrated care boards to properly commission and fund palliative care as required by the Health and Care Act 2022. ICBs are not consistently funding hospices adequately despite their statutory obligations. I requested that the Minister publish information on which ICBs are fulfilling their responsibilities.

She praised the staff at Martin House and St Leonard's for their care and professionalism. She highlighted that hospices are important places whose funding needs to be secure and long-term, citing a £1 million deficit faced by St Leonard's this year due to inflation pressures without corresponding funding increase. The hospice-at-home service has seen patient numbers rise from 200 in 2016 to 700 now, while fuel costs have risen by 180%, alongside increases in food and staffing costs. The Health and Care Act 2022 mandates funding for palliative care, yet people in communities need this care but are not receiving it. I asked the Minister to explain what has changed to enable this mandated funding.

St David's and Tŷ Gobaith hospices in Robin Millar's constituency play a vital role, especially for children with life-limiting conditions. These hospices face financial challenges due to rising costs, particularly staffing expenses which account for 71% of costs. The Welsh Government needs to provide £4.4 million to support hospices.

St Richard's Hospice in Worcester receives only about £700,000 of its £12 million income from the NHS and public funding. Robin highlights the need for additional Government support to help hospices cope with increased costs due to inflation and pay rises.

Hospices provide compassionate care for over 300,000 individuals yearly. However, they face budget deficits due to rising costs like energy bills and staff expenses, exacerbated by a drop in donations during the cost of living crisis. The Hospice of the Good Shepherd is matching NHS workforce payments but struggles with high energy consumption.

Stephanie focuses on Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice in Barnsley, highlighting the care provided for children like Daniel with mitochondrial disease and cerebral palsy. She calls for greater security and support for hospices, including the continuation of energy support grants. The end of life care at Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice remains closed. I asked the Minister to commit to supporting the hospice to reopen so that it can continue providing essential services.

I highlighted the need for certainty from the government regarding future funding, specifically requesting the Minister to renew the children's hospice grant after 2023-24.

The MP paid tribute to local hospices that provide professional care for those with life-limiting conditions. He mentioned the financial deficit faced by St Mary's Hospice due to a 0.0% settlement from NHS Lancashire South Cumbria ICB, leading to potential loss of beds and services. The chief executive Val Stangoe highlighted disproportionate treatment in comparison to other regions. ICBs have granted a 0% increase for hospices in Lancashire and South Cumbria, leading to potential 10% cuts at St Mary's Hospice. I asked the Minister to intervene directly to address this issue.

I spoke about Acorns Children's Hospice in Walsall and expressed hope that the Government would provide additional help to the hospice sector amidst rising energy prices.

Hospices provide crucial support to those with terminal diagnoses, ensuring they die with dignity. Bolton Hospice needs £4 million annually but is financially strained due to the cost of living crisis, being £457,000 worse off than in 2008. The hospice faces an operational deficit of £1.2 million and may need to reduce beds by 40% if funding does not increase.