Hospice Sector Reports Hundreds of Inpatient Beds Unavailable in England

Leaders in the hospice sector have issued a warning that approximately 300 inpatient beds across England are presently unavailable or closed. They attribute this situation, which has led some of England’s 170 hospices to either permanently close beds or render them unusable, primarily to insufficient funding and staffing levels. Hospice UK, the representative body for the sector, is now advocating for an immediate government funding package to avert additional reductions. The Department of Health stated its intention to explore methods of financial assistance for hospices to guarantee their long-term viability. The ongoing discussion surrounding assisted dying has intensified scrutiny on hospices, with certain parties contending that enhancing the standard of end-of-life care should be prioritized to empower patients with better-informed decisions. For a significant portion of the current year, hospice leaders have been highlighting an impending financial crisis. They assert that revenue received from the health service has not kept pace with escalating expenses, resulting in some hospices declaring reductions in clinical positions. Merely around one-third of their financial support originates from the NHS; the remaining portion must be generated through donations, fundraising activities, and charity shop sales. Hospices, which deliver both community-based and inpatient services, are now facing heightened apprehension due to the anticipated increase in employer national insurance contributions. According to Hospice UK, approximately 300 beds in England are either closed or unavailable for use, out of a total of 2,200, and this figure is on the rise. The organization has requested £110 million in additional government funding to avert further service reductions in the coming year. Concurrently, a children’s hospice located in Huddersfield has disclosed plans to make up to 16 staff members redundant, citing a £1 million funding deficit. The Forget Me Not hospice attributes this decision to escalating staff and energy expenses, alongside ambiguity regarding statutory funding, compounded by a challenging year for fundraising efforts. Annette Alcock, director of programmes at Hospice UK, stated that the current method of funding and commissioning hospices by the NHS is “acting as a huge cap on what they can do,” while also identifying “underlying pressures like staff shortages” as contributing factors. She further commented: “If the government can act in both the short and long term to resolve these problems, these figures are clear evidence that hospices can do a lot more for patients, and a lot more for the NHS. “That’s true out in the community too, where most of hospice care is actually delivered. “With better funding and commissioning, hospices could provide so much more care where people most want it – at home.” Elinor Eustace, CEO of St Giles Hospice in the Midlands, noted that NHS funding has failed to keep pace with inflation, consequently preventing the hospice from operating at its maximum capacity. “We’re running a waiting list for our beds and community services – we’ve had to make really difficult choices,” she informed BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. She also stated that the absence of a “sustainable funding model” results in numerous hospices lacking clarity regarding their financial allocations. “We genuinely don’t know what our funding is for next year,” she concluded. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care commented: “The choices the chancellor made in the Budget allowed us to invest another £26bn in the NHS. “We are looking at how we can financially support hospices next year to ensure they are sustainable.” Health Secretary Wes Streeting had previously suggested that a financial package would be unveiled prior to Christmas. Hospice leaders estimate that approximately £100 million would stabilize their financial positions at least until the close of next year and cover the increased national insurance contributions. However, they also noted that a greater investment would be required to substantially enhance the quality of care.