On Tuesday 18 November Hospice UK warned that here are now 380 beds out of use in hospices across England – a 25% increase since last year.
This stark new statistic was covered in the national media, including BBC Breakfast, highlighting the desperate and urgent need for increased financial support for hospices.
St Raphael’s Joint CEO and Clinical Director Becca Trower responded to the news and said:
“Sadly it is no surprise that the number of empty beds is continuing to rise across England as hospices struggle to keep their beds open while demand soars.
“Every day at St Raphael’s we are fighting hard to keep open 10 of our 13 beds. The current funding model simply does not stretch to cover the salaries of the additional specialist staff required to open our three remaining beds.
“In the last quarter, St Raphael’s has received a 20% increase in patient referrals and yet our staffing levels have never been lower. It is a dire situation, and the Government needs to take action now to protect hospices for the future. It is time for sustainable long-term funding, so that hospices can reliably provide vital end of life care for members of their communities when they need it most.”
The full Hospice UK story can be read here.
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