Hospice UK response to £5.5m funding for Welsh hospices

Matthew Brindley, Policy and Advocacy Manager for Wales at Hospice UK says: “Recent years have been very tough for Wales’s hospices, amid a combination of rapidly rising costs and ever growing need for end of life care.

“The additional £5.5m announced today will come as a huge relief to hospice charities, alleviating some of the immediate financial pressures they have been under, particularly in meeting the need to pay staff a fair salary that keeps pace with their NHS colleagues.

“We’re grateful to Welsh government for recognising both the pressure hospices are under, but also the immense value they bring to Wales’s health and social care system.

“It’s vital that we continue to work together toward a more sustainable approach to how we fund hospice care in Wales. Our population is ageing, with people’s health becoming more complex to manage. We need a strong, robust palliative and end of life care system. Hospices in Wales are ready to play their part, but we need the right funding arrangements in place to do so.

“Today is a really positive step, and as a hospice sector we look forward to continuing to work with government in the coming years.”

Liz Booyse, Chair of Hospices Cymru says: “We welcome Welsh Government’s commitment of £5.5 million in funding to Welsh hospices. It is a testament to the importance of the hospice sector within our healthcare system, and we are immensely grateful. Our services provide vital care and support to over 20,000 children and adults affected by terminal illnesses each year.

“This funding is a significant step forward, and we will continue our efforts to work in partnership with the Welsh Government to achieve a sustainable funding settlement that will bring greater stability to the Welsh hospice sector.”