Last week the government announced major investments for end-of-life care in England, starting with a £25m facility upgrade and refurb investment
The funding will see a further £75m investment from April, making £100m in hospice investments for the financial year 2024/25.
The investments will help to improve compassionate care for patients.
Buildings and surrounding areas will be transformed with hospice investments
Planned improvements include creation of outdoor garden areas and patient room renovations.
The first £25m cash injection will be given through Hospice UK, allowing hospices to purchase new medical equipment and technology, refurbish buildings, upgrade facilities for both patients and family, and improve energy efficiency.
These investments will affect over 170 hospices throughout the country, both ones run by organisations and independent ones.
The next £75m investment will contribute to capital projects such as major building works and facility modernisation through digital transformation and modernising IT systems.
The investment comes as part of the Plan for Change and an ambition to overhaul the health plan.
“Largest investment in a generation”
Stephen Kinnock, minister for care, said: “This is the largest investment in a generation to help transform hospice facilities across England. From upgrading patient rooms to improving gardens and outdoor spaces, this funding will make a real difference to people at the end of their lives.
“Hospices provide invaluable care and support when people need it most and this funding boost will ensure they are able to continue delivering exceptional care in better, modernised facilities.”
Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, said: “The announcement before Christmas of £100m of additional funding for hospices in England was a significant boost, and today’s news of the allocation of the first £25m of this funding will be a huge relief for our members.
“Several years of rapidly rising costs have curtailed the extent to which hospices have been able to invest in their infrastructure for the longer term. This additional support will enable them to do so – and relieve the immediate pressures on hospice finances.
“The hospice sector is ready to support the government’s ambition to shift more care into the community. This couldn’t be more important for people approaching the end of life, when it’s vital to have the right care, in the right place.
“The greater stability provided by the government’s funding injection this year and next gives us a golden opportunity to now reform the palliative and end of life care system, so it’s fit for the future.”
Nick Carroll, chief executive of children’s palliative care charity Together for Short Lives, said: “We’re really pleased that the Department of Health and Social Care has moved quickly to finalise the details of this much-needed funding and ensure it is ready for distribution.
“We know that children’s hospices across England face an increasingly challenging funding landscape, with costs continuing to rise significantly. This investment will help children’s hospices continue to deliver essential care for seriously ill children and their families across England.”
In January, the government revealed an update to the New Hospital Programme, pushing back the 2030 target well into 2039.
