St Gemma’s response to the government’s £100m investment in hospice care

“Hospice funding is a crucial issue this year, with many hospices like St. Gemma’s facing significant challenges. Rising costs, increased demand for our care, and uncertainty around government support are putting pressure on our services.

The recent budget has added to these concerns, with higher National Insurance Contributions expected to increase our costs by £350,000 a year. This is a significant strain on our finances at a time when our services are needed more than ever.

We welcome the government’s announcement of a £100 million funding package for hospices in England. This support is a positive step forward, and we are grateful to Hospice UK for their tireless advocacy in helping make this happen.

This funding package appears to focus on building and refurbishment projects, so we urge the government to go further by providing sustainable funding for the services we deliver in our communities, day in day out. This is essential to ensure we can continue offering the exceptional care St. Gemma’s is known for.

We are determined to secure part of this funding and will continue working hard to highlight the need for ongoing support to sustain vital hospice services for patients and families in our communities.“