A North Yorkshire MP has backed a charity’s campaign calling for fairer and more sustainable funding for hospices.
Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, gave his support after meeting leaders at Herriot Hospice at the Lambert to discuss rising demand for palliative care and the financial challenges facing the sector.
The Thirsk-based hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care for people with terminal illness, as well as support for families and carers across the area.
The charity says that while its services help reduce pressure on NHS hospitals and community health provision, it is currently reliant on charitable donations to fund all of its work.
Tony Collins, chief executive of Herriot Hospice, said securing the long-term future of the inpatient service remains the organisation’s priority, and that this will only be possible with NHS funding.
He added: “So far, our requests have been unsuccessful because of wider NHS funding pressures and because some funding continues to go to hospices outside our immediate area, including Darlington and Teesside.
“With support from our MPs and NHS England, these decisions are being challenged in both the short and longer term. We are continuing to press for a fair funding system for the inpatient unit based on the mandatory requirements of NHS commissioning.
“Alongside this, we are also seeking diversionary funding from resources currently directed to out-of-area hospices, to help protect specialist inpatient care for the communities we serve.”
The MP said: “Herriot Hospice provides an invaluable service to local people and their families during some of the most difficult times in their lives. The care they provide is exceptional, yet too much of the cost falls on charitable fundraising.
“I support the hospice’s call for fairer funding arrangements and will continue to raise this issue with decision-makers to ensure these essential services receive the support they deserve.”
The hospice estimates the cost of running its four-bed inpatient unit at just over £800,000 per year, currently funded entirely through charitable donations.
It believes it can sustain around £500,000 annually through voluntary income, but says the remainder must be met through statutory funding if it is to expand to six beds by April 2027.
The organisation is calling on the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) to review its funding approach and develop a more sustainable model that reflects the true cost of specialist hospice care.
It argues that increased investment would not only secure future inpatient services but also ease pressure on wider NHS services by reducing avoidable hospital admissions and supporting more people to receive care in their preferred setting.
The ICB declined to comment when approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Be the first to comment