Hospice funding needs more from the Government - Jenny Randerson

9.48.39am GMT Wed 13th Dec 2006

Balancing the books in the NHS means taking difficult decisions on where money is needed most. Traditionally, hospices haven't been top priority in many parts of Wales, which is why they are mostly registered charities. In many ways, perhaps we are so used to seeing fundraising campaigns from T? Hafan, Nightingale House and George Thomas, that we forget that the NHS has a role in providing care for the dying. However, I think it is time terminally ill patients received more attention from the Assembly Government.

In Wales, hospices caring for terminally ill adults receive on average only 21% of their funding from the NHS, compared to 32% in England. Funding is falling in Wales whilst it rises in England. The two Welsh children's hospices receive an average of only 4% from the NHS, which means the rest is found through fundraising. Put simply, Welsh hospices receive less money, which affects the amount of care they can provide. Wales is lagging behind on palliative care.

If a patient dies in hospital, or in a nursing home, their care is paid for by the NHS. In a hospice, patients will receive palliative care tailored towards their individual needs. Occupational therapy, spiritual support, counselling for patients and relatives is available. Yet the core medical costs of this care are paid for through fundraising.

More beds in hospices means more beds are free for other patients in hospitals and dying patients get specialist care. Providing more support for hospices takes pressures off other parts of the health service.

So the answer is obvious. Hospices should get more support from the Assembly Government through NHS funding. But throwing money at a problem isn't enough on its own.

Local Health Boards do not play a big role in funding hospices, so as a consequence, hospices aren't central to NHS forward planning, which leads to financial uncertainty. If hospices and local health boards could work together more closely, the result would be better care for terminally ill patients.

More patients would be able to die peacefully at home, more terminally ill children would be able to get counselling and support in hospices instead of being stuck in unsuitable hospital beds.

That's why I'm pleased that the National Assembly is to review the care that is provided for terminally ill patients in Wales. I want this review to consider how we fund this care, and I want to know if local health boards and hospices could work better together. Most of all, I want to know what we can do to improve the quality of life of people whose lives are shortened by illness.

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