Hospices on life support in the North East have been left 'disappointed' by a lack of support from the Chancellor in his Budget on Wednesday (March 15).
Hospices providing end-of-life care across the region were left high and dry by Jeremy Hunt after calls for direct support to save them from financial despair.
There was not one mention of hospices or end-of-life care in the Chancellor’s entire speech.
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Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy wrote to the Chancellor earlier this month (March 3) calling for direct financial support for the sector.
Speaking after the Budget on Wednesday (March 15) she slammed the Chancellor’s ‘failure’ to provide hospices with support.
Ms Foy said: “The Chancellor’s failure to provide the Hospice sector with a bespoke financial support package in the face of sky high costs means the future remains incredibly uncertain for many.
“Politics is about choices. The Chancellor could have put Hospices' concerns to bed today. He could have allowed their staff to focus entirely on the vital respite and end of life care for which hospices are so appreciated and the reason they hold a special place in the public’s hearts. Instead, he chose to give tax cuts to millionaire’s pension pots and thus leave hospices wondering how on earth they will pay the bills at a time when charitable donations are reducing.
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“Nationally, hospices are facing rising costs of over £100m, yet today he has set aside a fund of the same size to provide support to the entire charity sector in the UK. This is a shocking decision, and I will be pressing the Chancellor to think again.”
David Smith, CEO of Teesside Hospice and St Theresa’s Hospice in Darlington told the Echo he was “disappointed” by the lack of support.
He said: “It’s obviously disappointing not to see specific measures in today’s budget that support hospices across the country who are struggling to maintain essential clinical services in the face of unprecedented price rises.
“We look forward to a deeper analysis of the charity funding package outlined today and how that might, even in some small way, help us to continue delivering the care our hospice communities so evidently need.”
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Earlier this month Teesside Hospice launched a fundraising campaign after being left with a £450,000 budget deficit.
Meanwhile Paul Marriott, Chief Executive of St Cuthberts Hospice in Durham added: “It is good to see the revised inflation forecast and that it is predicted that we will not enter into recession. This takes us away from the cliff-edge of spiralling costs.
“The fuel duty freeze will make a small positive difference and or our patients and staff, it is good to see that the Energy Guarantee Scheme extended.
“However, it was disappointing to see no mention of extending the Energy Discount Scheme or indeed any other help for hospices as they navigate the increased costs we face this year and until inflation drops to more manageable levels.
“It was also disappointing to see that there was no recognition of the need to fund palliative and end of life care more sustainably in the long-term, with no additional support for the local NHS to enable them to meet the additional requirement to provide good care for the dying.”
Last week Darlington MP Peter Gibson led cross-party talks with hospice bosses on the sector’s struggles with the cost of living.
Speaking after the meeting on March 7 Mr Gibson said: “Hospices provide an invaluable benefit to our communities in the Tees Valley. It is hugely important that we secure funding clarity for the sector so that they can continue to provide their hugely important benefit to society.”
After the budget Mr Gibson said he “warmly welcomed” the measures announced but failed to be drawn on the lack of support for hospices.
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