Bolton Hospice is urging local people to support its call for fairer, sustainable Government funding for hospice care by signing its petition.

Government funding only covers a small fraction of hospice running costs. Bolton Hospice must raise more than £5.5 million of its £7 million annual running costs to continue providing free specialist care for local people. After years of below-inflation increases, hospices across the country are under severe pressure, with many cutting services or reducing capacity as costs rise and demand grows.

Hospice care is an essential service, yet unlike other core health services it is not fully funded by Government. Instead, palliative and end-of-life care relies heavily on fundraising, donations and gifts in wills to ensure local families can access the support they need.

Dr (h.c) Leigh Vallance, CEO of Bolton Hospice, said: “For more than 30 years, Bolton Hospice has cared for local people and families with compassion, expertise and dignity. Every day, we see just how much this care matters - and every day, we are reminded that it is only possible because of our community’s support.

Like many hospices across the country, we are under unprecedented pressure. Government funding only covers a fraction of the cost of delivering our specialist services, and without a long-term, sustainable solution for day-to-day funding, it becomes harder to plan for the future and protect the care our community relies on.

Our community has stood with us through every challenge. Now, we are asking people to stand with us again, not only for Bolton Hospice, but for every family who may one day need hospice care. Please add your voice today and help secure the future of these vital services.”

Hospice supporters have already pledged their support to the campaign:

Maria Thompson, Astley Bridge, said, “Bolton Hospice provided outstanding care for my late husband and my family when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Fairer funding is essential to enable as many people as possible to access the wonderful services that the hospice provides.”

Tracy Lomax, Kearsley, said, “My partner died there in 2017 he had stage 4 lung cancer. The care my partner received was exceptional, I have been a supporter ever since. Until you need the hospice you truly cannot comprehend the care, support given there. Nothing was ever to much trouble, myself and my family will be forever eternally grateful for the dignity, care and respect he was given.”

Wendy Houghton, Bradshaw, said, “Too many friends and family have benefited from the superb care and facilities provided. I have supported Bolton Hospice in many ways over numerous years. We need the full facilities open at all times rather than having to close rooms because of lack of funds. If rooms aren’t available, patients will have to be cared for in hospital, causing less hospital beds available for others and costing the NHS and ultimately the public, a lot more and/or patients won’t receive the due care that they are entitled to. More hospice care is needed as our population ages and I want everyone who wants the hospice care to be able to access it. It is a vital service and needs more government funding.”

How to show your support

People can support the campaign by signing the Stand with Bolton Hospice fairer funding petition.

The hospice will use the signatures to demonstrate public support for fairer hospice funding and press decision-makers to take action.

Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, said: “Hospices are facing a genuine cliff edge as funding fails to keep pace with rapidly rising costs and growing demand. The current way in which hospices are funded is not fit for purpose. It is patients who will pay the prices for this unfair model.

“The Government’s plan for a Modern Service Framework to overhaul palliative and end of life care is welcome and the hospice sector will work with them at pace to deliver this. But with nearly six in ten English hospices having made or considering cuts to frontline services the truth is many can’t wait, they need support right now to avoid further reductions in their care.

“We’ve already seen devastating cuts that have shrunk the care hospices can provide. Desperately needed hospice beds are shut as hospices can’t afford to staff them, and specialist community visits in people’s homes are decreasing when they should be going up. This all pushes more pressure back on to an already overloaded system. We must act now to prevent further cuts that affect the care people get at the end of their lives.

“We’re calling on the government to take urgent action through Hospice UK's four-point plan, which includes fully funding the specialist palliative care provided by hospices so they can continue delivering the vital care that patients and families rely on.”

Hospices play a vital role in the wider health system, helping people with life-limiting illnesses receive the care they need both in hospices and at home. In doing so, they help keep people out of hospital, easing pressure on the NHS and preventing distressing, often avoidable A&E admissions. But as more hospices are forced to make cuts, that pressure is pushed back into the system.

Together, our voices are stronger. Please add yours today.

Sign your name here.