Andrew Rosindell M.P. has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt Hon. Jeremy Hunt M.P., calling upon him to give fiscal support to hospices across the country.
Hospices provide vital support to those who are at their most vulnerable, working alongside the National Health Service to provide comfort, independence, and the best level of palliative care possible. However, the hospice sector is facing an estimated £100 million in supplementary costs as a result of rising costs of food, energy, and staff members.
One of the hospices affected is Saint Francis Hospice within Mr. Rosindell's constituency. The hospice is facing an annual increase of over £300,000 in their energy bills, which is causing an 11% increase in domestic contracts such as household waste, cleaning materials, and statutory maintenance contracts. The hospice is already facing a deficit of over £250,000 this year, and it is forecasted that they will face a deficit of over £750,000 in the next financial year.
The letter in full is as follows:
“I am writing to demonstrate my concern over the impact that the Cost-of-Living Crisis has had on hospices and charities dealing in end-of-life care.
Hospices care for those in society who are at their most vulnerable. They work hand in hand with our National Health Service, providing a level of support which cannot be found elsewhere, for those who desperately need it.
An exemplary example of this, is Saint Francis Hospice in my constituency: a wonderful charity which aims to provide comfort, independence, and the best level of palliative care possible, based in the historic village of Havering-atte-Bower.
Unfortunately, the hospice sector is now facing an estimated £100 million in supplementary costs, as a result of the rising costs of food, energy, and staff members.
Saint Francis Hospice is facing an annual increase of their energy bills of over £300,000, and due to this; domestic contracts are increasing by 11%, in areas such as household waste, cleaning materials, and statutory maintenance contracts.
They are already facing a deficit of over £250,000 this year and forecast a deficit of over £750,000 over the next financial year. I am sure that this situation has befallen many other hospices across our country. Hospices are a crucial area of our health and social care system which could be left stranded through no fault of their own.
We cannot allow this to happen, and I hope you will take this into consideration during the forthcoming Budget.
Can you tell me what additional Government support can be put in place, on top of the previously announced Energy Bills Discount Scheme, as this unfortunately provides a lesser level of support than a zoo or museum is due to receive.
It is vital that more is done, else we put at risks the lives of our constituents. I am sure you will agree with me that Britain’s hospice sector deserves better, and I hope that action will be taken to improve this situation.”
