St Cuthbert's Hospice’s Post

Devestating news for such an under-funded and vital service that goes above and beyond to provide the highest quality end-of-life services 💚 If any business, or individual, can support, the link is in the original post. #StCuthbertsHospice

Our thoughts are with staff, volunteers, patients and families at St Cuthbert’s Hospice at this challenging time. It’s wrong that colleagues are having to make these difficult choices – impacting on those we serve – to ensure long-term sustainability.   As I’ve said many times in recent months, these outcomes are sadly preventable with urgent short-term emergency funding for hospices, but a longer-term vision is what is ultimately needed for a sustainable hospice sector that is ready now to support NHS palliative care with the appropriate funding. 

Hospice responds to End of Life Bill and the increasing dependence placed on charities for end of life support Following the announcement, Dr Stephen Oxberry, Medical Director for The Kirkwood, summed up the view from the Kirkwood "Throughout the debate over the last few months, including today, it is clear how passionate people are that they and their loved ones should have access to the best possible palliative care and support as they approach the latter stages of their lives – and that they should be afforded the opportunity to die well. Sadly, the debate has highlighted many lived examples across England and Wales where this has clearly not been the case.   "This debate has shone a spotlight on the significant lack of resources available to support people with terminal illnesses as they approach the end of their life within the current NHS health and social care system. It has also served to further emphasise the scale of dependence placed on charities to try to provide services for people approaching the final stages of their lives, which will become increasingly unsustainable without further support from the government.   "Whichever side of the debate you have been on, we all share common goals in prioritising and making improvements to existing palliative and hospice care to allow better care in the final stages of life.   "Let's work together to keep the focus on ensuring everyone affected by a life limiting illness has the opportunity to access high quality palliative and end of life care, is given the support that is right for them, and is supported to die well; not limited by under-investment and under-resourcing." Victoria Tomlinson FRSA Beverley Shaw Michelle C. #thekirkwoodhospice #assisteddyingbill

Increasing statutory funding and ensuring its sustainable is vital to the hospice sector, action is needed now to ensure the sector can continue to deliver the care and essential services.

Following our most recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), we’re pleased to have retained our ‘Outstanding’ rating for ‘Caring’. 💜 The overall ‘Good’ rating, our first since 2015, comes following an inspection of our family of hospice services by the regulatory body back in December. Our Chief Executive Tony Collins said: “We and our community know that the high quality and compassionate care we provide via our services goes above and beyond to ensure people are cared for in the right place, and at the right time. To have this reinforced by our latest CQC inspection is heartening and sees us continue as local and regional leaders in specialist care for those living with a terminal illness. “However, to continue this care as we are, and meet our strategic aspirations to support 50% more people by 2027, we need to see urgent action in an uplift for our government funding*. We are expected to only receive a 1.2% rise in the government funding we receive from April – against inflation running at 8%. This leaves us with a £500,000 funding shortfall in the next financial year.” Read more, including some of the highlights from our report: https://loom.ly/y1Vomi4 💜👉Donate to our inflation appeal at https://lnkd.in/dHzXqq5

𝐒𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝’𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝. Today we have issued a statement to highlight the funding challenges we face as costs rise at a far greater rate than the NHS contribution we receive. Although we welcome the news that a £3 million recurring payment from the Welsh Government will be allocated to Welsh Hospices, we are still facing significant financial pressures. Without urgent financial support, we may face tough decisions about service delivery, which could place additional strain on NHS services and limit our ability to meet the growing palliative and end-of-life care needs of our communities. The funding shortfall places immense pressure on our ability to continue offering the high-quality care our community deserves. 💜 We value the incredible support that we receive from our communities. Please help amplify our voice to those who can help to make change – ensuring St Davids Hospice care remains for generations to come 💜 Read our full statement here: https://bit.ly/4gvv9WQ

In hospice care, we know you have important questions. Here's what families often ask us at Amedicus Hospice, and the answers that can help: 🌟📋 - What Services Does Hospice Provide? We offer comprehensive care, including pain management, emotional and spiritual support, and assistance with daily activities. - Who Qualifies for Hospice Care? Hospice is for individuals with a life-limiting illness, typically with a prognosis of six months or less if the disease follows its normal course. - Can Hospice Happen at Home? Absolutely! We provide hospice care wherever you call home, whether it's a private residence, nursing home, or an assisted living facility. - Is Hospice Care Covered by Insurance? Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurances cover hospice care. Our team can help you understand your coverage. - How Does Hospice Support Families? Beyond caring for the patient, we offer counseling, grief support, and respite care to help families navigate this journey. For more answers and compassionate guidance, visit www.amedicushospice.org or call us at 469-389-1028. We're here to support you and your loved ones every step of the way. #HospiceCareFAQs #AmedicusHospice

Thank you to Daniel Hewitt for his important reporting on the hospice funding crisis this evening on ITV Tonight. This coverage is vital in bringing attention to the financial struggles faced by many hospices. For children's hospices, rising costs and falling local NHS and council funding are creating significant challenges. The recent increase in ENICs (Employer National Insurance Contributions) will only intensify the financial strain, making it even harder to maintain the services these families depend on. Whilst it is encouraging to hear the Government will make an announcement before Christmas, it is critical that the Government: 1. Reimburses children’s hospices for the rise in ENICs. 2. Maintains NHS England’s £25 million funding for children’s hospices as a centrally-distributed and ringfenced grant to avoid delays. 3. Increases NHS England funding for children’s hospices to reflect inflation and rising costs. Children’s hospices need urgent, long-term support. Without it, essential services will be at risk.

A high-quality Hospice program, properly used is essential for VBC success. They are increasingly rare. United's local hospice was my go to and nurse Heather was my contact. I called her a fire-and-forget weapon. Once a patient was ready, I made the introduction and I didn't have to think again. They were that good. They're gone now. What the article below describes, I lived in real time. To succeed in VBC, find your Heather. Start your own hospice program, don't worry about billing for it, and focus on the care. Under VBC, your efforts will pay you back a thousand fold... In both money and karma. https://lnkd.in/g62NXgPe