Heart of Kent Hospice Chief Executive responds to Wes Streeting Hospice funding announcement

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced that hospices in England will receive £100 million in government funding over the next two years to enhance end-of-life care.

In his statement he emphasised the importance of hospices, "Hospices provide essential care and support for patients and families during the most challenging times, so it is only right they receive the financial backing to continue these services." 

He added, "This funding package will ensure hospices can continue to deliver the compassionate care everyone deserves at the end of their life, in the best possible environment." 

 Details about the £100 million funding will be shared with the hospice sector in the new year.  

 Rachel Street Chief Executive at Heart of Kent Hospice commented: 

“The announcement from Wes Streeting of a £100m boost for adult and children’s hospices for capital projects to support the delivery of exceptional palliative and end of life care is much welcomed. This commitment to the sector demonstrates that there is a recognition of the incredibly important role hospices play in supporting the whole health economy, helping people to stay out of hospitals and to die with comfort and dignity at home, in care homes or in hospice bedded units.  I would like to thank Hospice UK for working incredibly hard to ensure the plight of hospices is heard and for being our voice with the Government.  

We look forward to understanding how this short-term relief for capital expenditure will be allocated in order to support patient care and to help stabilise the hospice sector.  It doesn’t however address the underlying fragility of the sector and we look forward to discussing further how to ensure ongoing financial sustainability for hospices. We must ensure hospices remain part of the community in the future delivering specialist palliative and end of life care services for everyone. 

We’re acutely aware that the impact of recurring cost pressures on our Hospice isn't going away. We are focussed on how we continue to fund and provide our palliative care services for everyone against a backdrop of the rising pay costs and increasing numbers of people dying over the next 20 years.

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