Why is hospice care left to chance?

When someone is seriously ill or dying, hospices are there to hold the whole family through the worst of times. However, whether that care is there for you can depend on where you live. This Hospice Care Week, 5 to 11 October, we want to talk about why hospice care shouldn’t be left to chance.

Who pays for hospice care?

Nearly 1 in 3 people who need palliative care don’t get the support they need. Part of the reason for this is how hospices are funded. The government doesn’t fully cover the cost of hospice care, and in many cases, most of the money hospices need comes from their local communities.

People do incredible things to keep their local hospices running, from shopping in charity shops to running marathons. However, some communities can raise more than others, and the generosity of a local community can only go so far.

How much does the government actually cover?

Government funding covers on average 40% of the cost of care delivered by adult hospices, and around a third for children’s hospices. That means that for every £10 an adult hospice spends on care, around £4 comes from the government. Even that average varies wildly from one hospice to the next, with some getting as little as 3% and others getting as much as 80%.

What does this mean for patients and families?

With costs rising, many hospices are feeling the pinch. Nearly 6 in 10 have made or are considering cuts to frontline services. For adults and children with serious illness, that can mean fewer beds and fewer visits, just when they need them most. At the same time, more and more people need hospice care and demand for services is only set to rise.

Don’t leave hospice care to chance

Everyone deserves high-quality hospice care, whoever they are and wherever they live. That’s why hospices need more support from governments, so their care can be there for every family who needs it.

Throughout Hospice Care Week, we’ll be sharing stories from hospices across the UK, showing the difference their care makes to adults, children and their families. Join us in saying: don’t leave hospice care to chance. Help it be there for all, for now, forever.