BARNSLEY Hospice has backed a national campaign calling on the government to devise a plan to ensure similar sites are more sustainably funded.

Hospice UK have written to the Prime Minister Kier Starmer calling for fairer funding, ensuring that hospices are not left to plug widening funding gaps themselves.

Staff members, including nurses and leaders from hospices that have already been forced to make devastating reductions to services and staff redundancies delivered a letter to the Prime Minister and met MPs, to inform them of the reality of the crisis and calling for fair, sustainable funding last week.

The intervention comes as nearly 60 per cent of hospices in England have already made, or are planning, cuts to frontline services this year.

Financial pressures have forced many to make valued staff redundant, while 380 hospice beds lie unused, primarily because hospices cannot afford the staff to run them.

At the same time, specialist community visits have fallen by 150,000 in a year, despite rising demand.

Charlie King, director of external affairs at Hospice UK, said: “Behind this moment is a stark reality - nearly 60 per cent of hospices are cutting frontline services.

“These aren’t abstract figures - they translate into fewer people receiving the care they need at the end of life, and mounting pressure on an already overstretched NHS.

“We must act now to prevent further cuts to the care that people need at the end of their lives.

“The government’s commitment to a Modern Service Framework for palliative and end of life care is welcome, and the sector stands ready to help deliver it.

“But many hospices cannot wait.

“They need urgent, sustainable funding now to prevent further cuts.

“We’re calling on the government to act now by implementing Hospice UK’s four-point plan for fair funding, including fully funding the specialist palliative care we provide.

“A commitment of £112.5m in additional recurring revenue funding would be a vital first step, preventing further devastating cuts and enabling hospices to continue delivering the care that patients and families rely on.”

Barnsley Hospice has backed the campaign.

They need to raise £3.5m each year to fund the care they offer to residents.

Chief executive Ross Fletcher added: “All hospices in the UK are overly reliant on fundraising to keep their doors open and services running for those experiencing the most difficult circumstances.

“At Barnsley Hospice, we are no different.

“We are lucky and so very grateful to have the incredible support of the Barnsley public and businesses, however our vital services shouldn’t have to depend on ever-increasing sums of unplanned and uncertain generosity.

“We support Hospice UK in calling for decision-makers in government to devise a plan whereby hospices are more sustainably funded.”