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Hospice Faces Closure: £2M Deficit Threatens Services
8 Apr
Summary
- Queenscourt Hospice reports a £2 million deficit, threatening closure within 18 months.
- Annual income of £5.5 million falls short of the £7.5 million operating cost.
- Rising costs for salaries, National Insurance, and energy bills exacerbate financial strain.
Queenscourt Hospice in Southport, Merseyside, has revealed it is confronting its most severe financial crisis in 35 years. The hospice faces potential closure within the next 18 months if it cannot secure substantial additional funding to address a £2 million deficit. Currently, the hospice's annual income stands at £5.5 million, while its operational expenses reach £7.5 million.
Rising costs associated with employee salaries, National Insurance contributions, and energy bills have pushed the hospice's financial situation to an untenable point. Medical director Dr Clare Finnegan stated that the £2 million deficit means the hospice cannot sustain its current service levels, potentially reducing its 10 patient beds to five.
While Integrated Care Boards have promised increased funding, this support is not expected to arrive quickly enough, with timescales of three to five years. The hospice has relaunched its Keep Queenscourt in Service campaign to raise vital funds, emphasizing its crucial role in providing end-of-life care for over 70,000 patients and families in West Lancashire, Formby, and Southport since 1991.
The UK government has stated it has made 'the biggest investment in hospices in a generation' and plans to modernize palliative care. However, Queenscourt Hospice highlights that its annual government funding has not kept pace with inflation, making community support essential for its survival.
