Dorothy House Hospice Care has received £298,000 in capital funding as part of the national £100 million government hospice grant.
The short-term investment comes after the charity announced it faces a critical financial shortfall that, without remedy, threatens the specialist end-of-life care it currently provides to patients and families across the area.
“With only 20% of our funding coming from government, we have to rely heavily on the compassion and generosity of our community to fundraise every £4 in £5 it costs to run Dorothy House each year,” says a spokesperson for the charity.
“Several years of rapidly rising costs, the NHS Pay Award (an extra £400,000/year) and the recent 40% increase in National Insurance – costing Dorothy House an extra £422,000/year – have all taken their toll on our ability to invest in future infrastructure.
“This short-term investment, though welcome, is not designated for funding staff, patient and family care, nor importantly, the staff required for a much-needed expansion of our clinical and community services to meet the projected 25% increase in end-of-life care need, by 2045.”
Last month, the charity launched its Together in Adversity Campaign to highlight the shortfall and appeal for supporters to donate or run fundraisers for Dorothy House Hospice Care.
The spokesperson said, “It is vital, therefore, that we continue to work together with Hospice UK and the government to secure sustainable long-term funding to ensure people approaching the end of life receive the care at the time and in the place, that they need it most.”
Chief executive of Dorothy House Hospice Care, Wayne de Leeuw, said, “We urgently need the support of our community and the government to ensure we continue offering the specialist care and support that our patients and their families deserve. No one should face death alone and yet this financial gap places huge pressure on our workforce to make difficult decisions about who can receive our care, at a time when we want everyone to have equal access to our specialist support.
“Last year Dorothy House cared for more than 3,000 patients and 1,000 loved ones completely free of charge. We have done this in the face of enormous funding adversity because it is the right thing to do, but now, more than ever, we need help to ensure people can die with dignity.”
The charity is appealing to anyone who will one day need its services, to stand with Dorothy House in the face of adversity, to help protect vital core services now and into the future. Supporters can attend an event, donate to and visit the shops or run their own fundraiser.
For more information, visit the website https://www.dorothyhouse.org.uk/support-us/donate/ Some of the ways you get involved are also listed on the website.
