The Wroughton-based charity is facing a critical financial shortfall which threatens the incredible independent specialist end-of-life care they currently provide. Rising costs and stagnant government funding have left Prospect Hospice £1 million short of what is needed this year.
Charlotte Forrest, the new director of income generation at Prospect Hospice, emphasises the gravity of the situation: “The gap in our funding is a serious threat to the vital services we provide. We urgently need the support of our community to continue offering the high level of care and support that our patients and their families rely on.”
“Since I joined the team here in February, I’ve been blown away by the determination and generosity of our supporters, patients, their families, and our community. Last year Prospect Hospice cared for more than 2,000 patients completely free of charge. The truth is, we simply couldn’t do that without support from the public.”
CEO, Jeremy Lune said:
“Prospect Hospice is facing huge financial challenges as the cost of delivering our care escalates. The amount of funding from the NHS has declined dramatically in real terms over recent years, yet the demand for our services is ever increasing. Unless something changes, there is a real chance that we will not survive.
We will look at every single opportunity to ensure that this does not happen. The care that we provide for the people of Swindon and north east Wiltshire is unique. We can only support our community with the help of that same, incredibly generous community. Every donation changes lives for the better.”
With prices rising rapidly and more people than ever needing care, the charity is urging the community to help bridge the financial gap. Even small donations can make a significant difference in ensuring that families like Sinéad and Harry’s receive the care they need during the toughest times of their lives.
“Harry was a rare case – he was just 25,” says Sinéad. “His cancer caused paralysis, so from the beginning, the hospice’s physio team was involved. Their ability to adapt and tailor the service was incredible. They came to our house and provided a positive focus for him every day, giving us structure, routine, and hope during a devastating time. I don’t know how we’d have managed without them.”
Sinead continues to advocate and fundraise for the hospice, understanding deeply the devastating consequences of service cuts. “It’s my worst fear because I know how much our family depended on them.”
You can support your local hospice by giving a one-off donation or setting up a regular monthly gift.
£25 could pay for an hour of support from a nurse, giving family and friends a much-needed break from caring for their loved one, £60 could pay for an hour’s stay on our inpatient unit, for a patient and their family, so they can enjoy their final hours together, £100 could pay for a series of specialist physio sessions for a patient like Harry.
www.prospect-hospice.net/helpourhospice
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Photo caption: Sinead and Harry
About Prospect Hospice
Prospect Hospice is a charity providing end of life care to people 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. The hospice provides all its services free of charge to patients and this is made possible thanks to generous donations from the community it serves which raises 75% of the £8million it costs each year to operate.
Patient support is delivered in a variety of ways, tailored to the needs of the individual. Specialist teams provide clinical, emotional and practical support to patients and their families delivered at the hospice in Wroughton, Swindon, and in people’s homes.
Prospect Hospice was founded in 1980 and serves a community of more than 300,000 people in Swindon and northeast Wiltshire, including Royal Wootton Bassett, Marlborough and Pewsey, plus Lechlade and Fairford in Gloucestershire.
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