The government is considering providing financial assistance to hospices in the UK to help them stay open. The increase in national insurance payments by employers, along with higher wages, has put hospices at risk of closure. The hospice sector estimates a loss of £30 million per year due to the national insurance increase and an additional £60 million due to higher wage bills.
To address this issue, the government is exploring various options to support hospices. These options include offsetting some or all of the national insurance increase for non-NHS end-of-life care providers, funding staff pay rises to match NHS terms and conditions annually, or creating a direct funding pool specifically for hospices.
Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, mentioned that the allocation of funds for hospices is a matter for the NHS. While integrated care boards within the NHS have been tasked with commissioning palliative and end-of-life care since 2022, the sector feels that funding distribution is inconsistent, with two-thirds still coming from the voluntary sector.
Health Secretary West Streeting has informed MPs that he is working on a solution to address the funding crisis facing the end-of-life care sector. The upcoming debate on assisted dying in late November may offer an opportunity to review funding for hospices more comprehensively. Some ministers who previously supported assisted dying are now concerned about the state of palliative care and may not vote for the legislation.
Opponents of assisted dying, like Labour MP Rachael Maskell, emphasize the need to improve end-of-life care to provide better options and access to medicine for terminally ill patients. The hospice sector has expressed concern that without additional funding, services may need to be reduced.
Marie Curie charity estimates that the increase in employer national insurance contributions will cost the charity an extra £3 million annually. Toby Porter, the chief executive of Hospice UK, highlights the financial challenges faced by hospices, with many already cutting services due to insufficient funding.
The proposed legislation on assisted dying aims to have strict protections against coercion, with the bill potentially being over 40 pages long. The government acknowledges the financial pressures on the hospice sector and emphasizes the importance of quality end-of-life care. Shifting more healthcare into the community is a priority to ensure patients and families receive personalized care, with hospices playing a significant role in this transition.
In conclusion, the government and various stakeholders are working to find solutions to support hospices and ensure that end-of-life care services are adequately funded. The ongoing debate on assisted dying and the financial challenges facing hospices highlight the importance of high-quality care for terminally ill patients. Additional funding and policy changes will be crucial in transforming and improving end-of-life care services in the future.
