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Hospices Face Service Cuts Amid Funding Crisis
5 Jan
Summary
- Western hospices warn of service reductions due to insufficient NHS funding.
- Many hospices rely on one-third NHS funding, the rest from donations.
- Jessie May Hospice saw costs rise 17% in 2025, outstripping donations.
Hospices across the West are issuing stark warnings about potential reductions in their services, citing inadequate funding from the NHS. These organizations, which provide critical end-of-life care, often receive only about a third of their financial support from the National Health Service, with the remainder reliant on public donations. This precarious funding model is being stretched thin by rising operational costs.
Jessie May Hospice, a children's palliative care provider in Bristol, has highlighted a 17% increase in its costs during 2025. The hospice indicated that its income from donations and statutory funding has not kept pace with these escalating expenses. This financial pressure threatens its ability to continue offering its specialized home-based care.
While the government announced a £100 million investment in 2024, described as the largest in a generation, to improve hospice facilities, the article suggests this has not yet resolved the immediate funding gap. A new funding model is reportedly under development, but the immediate future for some hospices remains uncertain.
