Major investment for hospices has been announced by the government with the aim of ensuring that hospices can continue to deliver high quality end of life care.
The £100 million funding will help hospices this year and next to provide the best end of life care to patients and their families in a supportive and dignified physical environment.
Hospices for children and young people will also receive a further £26 million revenue funding for 2025/26 through what until recently was known as the Children’s Hospice Grant.
The government says that it is committed to ensuring every person has access to high-quality end of life care and, as part of its Plan for Change is taking immediate action to rebuild the health service and deliver improved standards of care, making sure it is fit for the future.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: "Hospices provide the care and support for patients and families at the most difficult time so it is only right they are given the financial support to provide these services. This package will ensure they will be able to continue to deliver the compassionate care everyone deserves as they come to the end of their life in the best possible environment."
This investment will go towards helping hospices to improve their buildings, equipment, and accommodation to ensure that patients continue to receive the best care possible. That will include refurbishing bedrooms and bathrooms for patients and providing comfortable overnight facilities for families, improving IT systems making it easier for GPs and hospitals to share vital data on patients. The money will also help towards improving garden and outdoor spaces so patients and their families can spend time outdoors in greener and cleaner spaces.
It will also help to develop and bettering outreach services to support people in their own homes when needed.
Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said: "I am grateful to NHS staff and voluntary organisations, including hospices, for the deeply compassionate care and support they give to end of life patients and their families. The £100 million capital investment that the government is announcing today will allow hospices to improve their physical and operational environment, enabling them to provide the best possible care to their patients."
Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS national director of primary care, said: "Hospices provide such an important service to patients and families at a very difficult time of life so this funding boost is incredibly welcome. It’s absolutely right that staff can provide high quality and compassionate care to people at the end of their life in the best possible environment and this package will help staff to do that."
As part of the 10 Year Health Plan, the government says that it wants to shift healthcare out of hospitals into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting. The palliative and end of life care sector, including hospices, will have a big role to play in that shift.
There are around 170 hospices that provide end of life care for adults, and around 40 provide hospice care for children and young people in England, with some hospices providing care to both.
Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, said: "This announcement will be hugely welcomed by hospices, and those who rely on their services. Hospices not only provide vital care for patients and families, but also relieve pressure on the NHS. This funding will allow hospices to continue to reach hundreds of thousands of people every year with high-quality, compassionate care. We look forward to working with the government to make sure everyone approaching the end of life gets the care and support they need, when and where they need it."
