Rescue Britain's Hospices
Our Hospices are in serious financial trouble.
This vital service needs our support more than ever - but the Government's cruel tax hike could be the tipping point.
One of the very first emails I received after my election in July 2024 was from St Raph's hospice in Cheam, who badly needed extra support to ensure they could continue to operate their services next year as rising costs stretched their budget beyond breaking point.
The 2024 Budget left the Hospice sector in an even worse financial situation than the one it was already in. The Government's decision to raise N.I. contributions means that hospices already struggling with massive deficits are now facing greater uncertainty over their ability to continue offering their services.
I meet with the team at St Raph's Hospice regularly to discuss the impact the N.I. hike will had on them. They told me that they calculate it will cost them an extra £139,000. It's just not good enough - and I've been calling on the Government to exempt hospices and other healthcare providers from this unfair hike.
I will keep campaigning for a proper long-term funding settlement for hospices to make sure they are sustainably able to keep their doors open. My first proposed Bill - the Hospices and Healthcare (Report on Funding) Bill - had a chance to be discussed in 2025 but was talked out by Conservative MP Christopher Chope.
It may be difficult for us to think about, but when any of us reach the final stages of our life, we all hope to be able to rely on compassionate, kind and professional care.
That is why the hospice sector is so important. Hospices like our own St Raph’s in North Cheam provide remarkable care that offers patients comfort and their families peace of mind.
But the sector is being seriously let down. For too long hospices have had to rely on charity, and the little funding they get from the NHS has failed to keep pace with inflation.
It means that now, 40% of hospices are planning to make cuts in the next year - including over 50% of children’s hospices. It’s a disgraceful situation.
That’s why I’ve been lobbying Wes Streeting to release short-term funds to stop the cuts, and introduced a Private Members’ Bill to make sure that hospices get more long-term funding from the NHS so that the future of end-of-life care can be secured.
But I need your support - can you sign my petition so we can show the government that we won’t stand for it?
Tell the Government: Save our Hospices!
I agree with Luke Taylor MP - the Government must scrap the cruel N.I. hike on hospices and agree a long-term funding agreement.
