Hospice care crisis threatens vital services for families this Christmas

Christmas is upon us, and families across the nation are getting together to spend time together and make new memories.

But for a small group of families – those with children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions – as the timescale for making memories shrinks, so does the level of support around them. 

The growing crisis in hospice care is beginning to take effect. Across the country, hospices are being forced to reduce their services, with some closing wards and cutting critical care due to funding shortfalls. This three-pronged crisis - rising demand, increasing costs, and uncertain statutory support - threatens the opportunities for these families to make the memories that will sustain them in the future. Many hospices, such as those serving communities where charitable giving is more challenging, are struggling to meet the needs of patients and families.* 

Hospices traditionally provide a vital role in supporting those with life-limiting conditions, offering comfort and dignity in the final stages of life. However, with limited statutory funding, many hospices rely on local communities for donations. Charities like Jessie May, the South West’s children's hospice at home, are already feeling the strain, as the rising costs of running care services are outpacing the funds raised. Without the necessary funding, hospices face the painful reality of having to make redundancies and cut critical services.* 

It costs approximately £1.6 billion each year to run the UK’s 200 or so hospices, with £1.1 billion of that coming from the kindness of members of the public.* This is already a daunting task under normal circumstances, but these are far from normal times. Economic pressures and a challenging healthcare environment are leaving hospices with fewer resources to meet the demand. Simply put, hospices are slowly running out of money.  

“For families like ours, Jessie May is a lifeline,” says Emma, whose daughter Izzy relies on the charity’s care. “Without them, we wouldn't know what to do. The support they provide means everything - it allows us to focus on being a family, not just managing a condition. I soon realised that there is widespread ignorance about how hospices are funded. Without donations to Jessie May, we wouldn’t receive the care we so desperately need, and that thought is really scary.”  

Jessie May’s community engagement fundraising officer, Emma Southgate, adds, “The demand for our services is growing, and with only a small percentage of our funding coming from statutory sources, we rely heavily on donations from the community. This increasing demand places additional pressure on our fundraising team. Without continued support, we risk being unable to provide the critical care that families like Emma’s depend on. It’s a daunting reality, but we remain committed to doing everything we can to make a difference.” 

As the demand for end-of-life care continues to rise, hospices like Jessie May face mounting pressures. CEO Daniel Cheesman, echoes the concern: "We are at a tipping point. If more funding is not allocated soon, many hospices will be forced to scale back or close vital services, putting extra strain on the already overburdened NHS. This is a crisis, and we need immediate action to ensure that every family has access to the care they deserve. 

“This Christmas, as communities come together to support loved ones, the need for sustained support for hospice care has never been more urgent. At a time of giving, your support is still critically needed to help ensure hospices can continue their vital work. We also urge the government to step in and provide essential funding to prevent further cuts and ensure that hospices can continue offering the compassionate care that families like Emma and Izzy rely on. The time to act is now.”