People’s access to vital end-of-life care should not depend on where they live, says Rowcroft Hospice, as it highlights the postcode lottery affecting hospice care in England.
According to Hospice UK, the national charity representing more than 200 member hospices, almost one in three people are not receiving the end-of-life care they need. One of the factors contributing to this is the significant variation in NHS funding received by hospices across the country.
Mark Hawkins, Chief Executive of Rowcroft Hospice, said:
“Hospice care should be available to everyone who needs it, regardless of their postcode. Yet the level of NHS funding hospices receive varies hugely across the nation, meaning access to vital end-of-life care can depend on where someone lives.
“Here in South Devon, we’re incredibly fortunate to have an exceptionally generous community that supports its local hospice in extraordinary ways. But access to hospice care should never depend on a postcode or on a community’s fundraising capacity. Fairer funding would help ensure people have access to high-quality hospice care, wherever they live.”
The funding disparity is particularly stark in the South West. While hospices across England receive, on average, around 40% of their funding from the NHS, just 24% of Rowcroft’s annual income comes from NHS funding.
At the same time, the cost of providing specialist hospice care continues to rise. Since 2004, Rowcroft’s charitable expenditure has more than doubled. Over the same period, general prices have increased by 99%, staff nurse wages by 77%, and the daily cost of employing a staff nurse has risen from £84 to £159.
“Like many hospices, Rowcroft is facing the growing cost of providing specialist care at a time when demand is increasing,” said Mr Hawkins. “Our community continues to rally behind us, and that support is absolutely essential to keeping our services available to the people who need them.
“One way people can help is through our Sponsor a Nurse initiative. A regular gift provides valuable, reliable income that helps fund the nurses and clinical teams caring for people at the end of life, both at the hospice and in their own homes. It’s a simple way to make a lasting difference to the care available in South Devon, today and in the future.”
Rowcroft is backing Hospice UK’s campaign for fairer funding and calling on the government to ensure funding arrangements reflect both the growing need for hospice care and the true cost of delivering it. This would help recognise the crucial role hospices play in supporting patients and families, while also relieving pressure on the wider healthcare system.
The charity is highlighting the issue as part of Hospice Care Week (5 to 11 October 2026).
Find out more about Sponsor a Nurse and support Rowcroft at: www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk.
—————–
Attached image caption: Occupational Therapist with patient in Rowcroft’s Inpatient Unit. Credit Roy Riley/Rowcroft
——————–
About Rowcroft Hospice
It takes time, compassion, medical expertise and money to help patients with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones to make the most of every day, but every year Rowcroft Hospice helps around 2,500 people in South Devon to do just that.
By providing comfort, support and specialist services, the hospice enables families to share precious moments when they are needed most – whether it’s a beautiful wedding, remarkable reunion or a simple thank you.
From Dartmouth to Dawlish and up onto Dartmoor, Rowcroft cares for 80% of its patients in their own homes with a team of community nurse specialists, social workers, and bereavement volunteers. The team also provides occupational therapy, physiotherapy, complementary therapy, spiritual care and music therapy, delivering a holistic approach tailored to individual needs.
Day and night, Rowcroft’s award-winning Hospice at Home team provide free specialist support to patients at home in their last few of weeks of life. The team helps to monitor and manage symptoms to enable patients to be comfortable and also offers support for loved ones, enabling carers to take much needed breaks. The service includes a dedicated telephone support line 24 hrs a day.
In Rowcroft’s 12-bedded Inpatient Unit in Torquay, the hospice’s team provides specialist care for patients whose complex needs cannot be met at home. Along with high quality health and social care, we also offer delicious homecooked meals and access to our beautiful gardens. The welcoming and homely environment helps patients and families to make the most of precious time together.
Rowcroft is an independent charity with around 75% of its funding derived from the incredible generosity of local people. The hospice team fully acknowledges the current challenging economic climate and is grateful for the local community’s continued support through these tough times; every pound raised makes a real difference.
With an increasingly ageing local population, the demand for Rowcroft’s care has never been greater. The charity currently cares for around one in three people with life-limiting illnesses across South Devon and has ambitious plans to expand its care to reach more people.
================
ehospice is proud to help promote individual, local, national and international voices in Hospice & Palliative Care
We are on target to have over One Million page views this year.
To stay in touch with colleagues and news around the world subscribe to our free Newsletter
Leave a Reply