We are proud to have featured on BBC Newsnight on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 November, highlighting the vital care we provide to patients in our community. The coverage followed a visit to the Hospice from BBC Newsnight, including broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire.
The programme explored the ongoing funding challenges facing St Raphael’s and the wider hospice sector across the UK. It also highlighted the specialist, compassionate and dedicated care that we offer patients through powerful testimonies from two patients under our care and our Medical Director, Dr Gabrielle Tamura-Rose.
Click the iplayer links below to watch the programmes from 20 minutes into the shows:
Newsnight Wednesday 12 November
Newsnight Thursday 13 November
Nick Stevens, Joint CEO and Director of Finance, spoke to the BBC about the financial pressures on the Hospice at a time when demand for our services has seen a 20 per cent increase.
Nick said:
“Hospice care is vital across the UK, but it must not be taken for granted. Without increased Government funding, hospices will be forced to make further cuts to services, even as demand continues to rise. It’s time to protect hospices for the future so that dignified, specialist care can continue for generations to come.”
Each year St Raphael’s provides care and support to over 1,000 people in Merton and Sutton, completely free of charge. It costs nearly £6.5 million a year to run our services, however we only receive around 25% of funding from the NHS. The majority of our funding comes from dedicated and generous donations from our local community.
We are incredibly grateful to BBC Newsnight for helping raise awareness of hospice care.
If you can, please consider supporting our work, every donation helps us continue providing vital care and compassion when it matters most.