Latest figures show that our hospice receives just 15% of its funding from the Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB), the local NHS body with responsibility for funding healthcare services in Devon – compared to a national average of 27%.
This inequitable funding combined with soaring prices and a sharp dip in income from gifts in wills has resulted in the charity facing a £2.5 million deficit this year.
The hospice has already taken steps to tackle the shortfall, including reducing its administration costs and cutting the number of beds on its ward in Exeter. It is now having to change how it delivers part of its at-home care for patients during the last days of their lives, which is likely to result in staff redundancies.
In this video from November 2023, hospice CEO, Andrew Randall, explains our funding situation:
In July 2024, Mr. Randall, added: “We’re an independent local charity that provides specialist palliative care for over 2,000 patients a year in Exeter, central and east Devon. Our care is rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission and is provided to patients on our ward, in community hubs and in patients’ own homes.
“Acute funding challenges and inequitable statutory funding mean we must reduce our costs while still maintaining vital care and support for local people facing terminal illnesses.
“Last month, we consulted with our clinical teams on a proposed new rapid response care service to replace our beloved Hospiscare at Home service. It is with deep regret that I say this means that some highly valued and skilled colleagues are sadly at risk of redundancy.”
Ann Rhys, Clinical Director at the hospice, said: “Patient care is central to everything we do. Despite the challenges facing us we’ll do everything in our power to always give the very best care.
“Potentially making brilliant colleagues redundant is absolutely the last thing I want to do, and we will do everything we can to redeploy our staff where possible. But unfortunately we’re in the position where we must make difficult decisions to safeguard the long-term future of the hospice.
“We will be writing to our patients, but I really want to reassure our current Hospiscare at Home patients that this decision won’t come into effect until autumn and won’t affect their care. Our specialist community team and other outpatient and inpatient services will continue as normal.”
Addressing the on-going inequity in the hospice’s funding, Chair of Trustees, Brian Aird, said: “Despite multiple conversations over two years with the Devon Integrated Care Board, gross inequities in the statutory funding we receive have not been addressed and significant increases in costs have had a stark impact on the hospice’s finances.
“Thanks to the incredible support of thousands of generous people across our community who donate, play our lottery, use our charity shops or remember us in their will, Hospiscare raises over 80% of the money we need every year. But we need more long-term help. We are not asking Devon ICB to fully fund our hospice – we just urgently need them to commit to giving us fair government funding so we can continue to provide outstanding care to local people at the end of their lives.”
For more information about the issues mentioned here please see www.hospiscare.co.uk/fair. If you have any concerns about forthcoming changes to our services, please email [email protected].
