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New Report reveals hospices facing funding crisis
May 22, 2003 12:01 AM
Burstwo highlights hospice funding shortages
A crisis in care for the chronically sick and dying is exposed today in a new survey of 201 hospices and palliative care units in England published by Liberal Democrat Spokesman for Older People Paul Burstow MP.
The main findings of the survey are:
• The hospices receive, on average, a third of their funding from the NHS, whilst some receive no NHS funding at all.
• The Government is using the National Lottery to shore up hospices.
• Almost half (48%) reported delays in reaching funding settlements.
• 71% of hospitals did not receive any of the £50 million from the NHS Cancer Plan in 2001/2, and 68% have yet to receive any in 2002/3.
• Many hospices reported bed occupancy of 90% or higher, making planning difficult and causing waiting lists.
• 26% of hospices said they had to close beds in the last 2 years, with some hospices closing altogether.
• Only 52% of hospices get free support services for patients (ie ambulance, pathology, imaging, pharmacy), despite a Government statement announcing they would be free to all hospices.
• There are over 600 less district nurses than when Labour came to power.
Paul Burstow MP said:
"Hospices and palliative care units provide dignity and high quality care for patients who are chronically sick or dying.
"The Government said clearly in its NHS Cancer Plan that all NHS patients should have access to specialist palliative care advice and services. But it is not putting its money where its mouth is.
"The National Lottery - which is meant to fund projects additional to Government programmes - is being used to shore up this core service. And the voluntary sector is having to stump up the rest.
"Hospice managers, clinical staff and support staff are shouldering a heavier burden each year. Their fundraisers are clearly stretched to the limit.
"This problem is not going to go away. As hospices close, the waiting lists will only get longer. The Government cannot look the other way and rely on the Lottery and the voluntary sector to run our hospices without support."
Mr Burstow is calling on the Government to implement a 6 Point Plan to improve care for the terminally ill:
• Ministers must make earmarked hospice funding a priority for new money for the NHS.
• Hospices should not be funded from the Lottery.
• There must be a clear dividing line between local and national responsibilities for the hospice sector.
• A culture of delivery - rather than announcement - must be engaged both for funding and care.
• Medical education must include palliative care as part of disease management.
• The Government must reverse the decline in district nurses.
ENDS
Notes to Editors.
• Quotes from hospice managers and staff are available in the report.
• A case study of a hospice facing funding difficulties is available. Contact: John Woodissee, Chairman, All Hallows Hospital, Station Road, Ditchingham, Bungay, Suffolk, NR35 2QL. Tel. 01986 892 728. Fax. 01986 895 063
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