Government Funding Update
Added 2nd April 2025
As we start the new financial year we are again facing a tough reality with a significant deficit budget as we fight to keep vital services running for those who need them most. We need to take action now to ensure we can continue to provide the very best specialist palliative and end of life care for as many patients as possible – not just now but in the future too.
Just before Christmas, the government announced a capital funding package of £100m for hospices in England with the purpose of improving hospice facilities. In the first round of funding we received £111,983, which has helped us with upgrades and refurbishments such as replacing our boilers. We anticipate a second and final round of capital funding to be released in the coming months.
While this immediate funding is a positive and much-appreciated step forward, the money cannot be spent on day-to-day running costs. Our priority remains securing a robust and sustainable funding model for hospice care and services in the long term.
On 18th March, our Chief Executive, Sam Wells, and Director of Clinical Services, Angie Anderson, joined other Greater Manchester hospice leaders in Parliament to urge MPs to support reforms to hospice funding. We were delighted that Rochdale MP Paul Waugh attended and are grateful for his continued support.
Since 2020, hospices across Greater Manchester have seen total costs rise by 33%, with much of this burden falling on local communities to bridge the funding gap. The people of Heywood, Middleton, and Rochdale do so much to support Springhill Hospice, but essential hospice services should not have to rely so heavily on our community support.
The Government’s new 10-year health plan presents an opportunity to address this issue. Investing in hospice care can reduce hospital admissions, speed up discharges, keep care within the community, and help ensure that more people can spend their final days in the place of their choosing.
This not only improves the experience for patients and their loved ones but also alleviates pressures on the NHS. We urge the Government to prioritise hospice funding and ensure these vital services remain sustainable for the future.
