UK Hospices Face Funding Crisis, Impacting End-of-Life Care
A growing financial strain on hospices across the United Kingdom is forcing cuts to services and limiting access to palliative care, raising concerns about the quality of end-of-life support for thousands of patients.
Recent data reveals that two-thirds of adult hospices in England recorded a deficit in the 2023-24 fiscal year, according to a National Audit Office report. This has led to staff reductions, fewer available beds, and diminished community services for individuals seeking care at home. The situation creates a postcode lottery, where access to quality palliative care depends heavily on location and local NHS prioritization. Arthur Rank Hospice in Cambridgeshire, for example, recently announced the closure of nine of its 21 beds after Cambridge University Hospitals withdrew £829,000 in annual funding. “Essentially, this now means that over 200 people a year will no longer have the option of being cared for in the comfort of our hospice and instead will sadly be dying in a busy hospital,” stated Sharon Allen, the hospice’s CEO.
The NHS currently funds approximately 30% of hospice care in the UK, with the remaining funding reliant on charitable donations. This reliance on charity is particularly concerning as demand for palliative care is projected to increase by more than 25% by 2048, driven by an aging population and increasing rates of chronic illness. The lack of consistent funding also impacts patients’ choices, with fewer than a third of deaths in England taking place at home, and only 5% occurring in hospices, according to Marie Curie.
The situation is further complicated by ongoing parliamentary debate surrounding assisted dying, with politicians on both sides agreeing on the importance of accessible, high-quality palliative care. However, approximately 150,000 people annually are already unable to access the palliative care they need, potentially leading some to consider assisted dying due to a lack of viable alternatives. The government responded to last week’s report stating, “We recognise there is more to do, and we are exploring how we can improve the access, quality and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-year health plan,” but critics point out that the word “palliative” appears only once in the NHS 10-Year Plan.
Officials say they are continuing to evaluate options for improving palliative care funding and access.
