Big windfall for upgrade of West Midlands hospices - find out how the money is being distributed

The £25m investment will be distributed immediately for the 2024/25 financial year, with a further £75 million to follow from April. 

More than 170 hospices across the country will receive funding, including those run by Marie Curie and Sue Ryder, while hospices in the West Midlands have received funding.

Acorns Children's Hospice in Walsall has received £302,003 in funding.

Trevor Johnson, chief executive at Acorns, said: “We welcome news of the funding allocation to Acorns and are very pleased to receive capital investment for our hospices in Birmingham, the Black County and Worcester. 

"It will help us to improve our infrastructure and hospice facilities so we can continue to provide vital, high-quality palliative care that so many children and their families across the West Midlands rely on.

“We are keen to ensure that longer-term funding is put in place regarding children’s palliative care and look forward to being part of a conversation about this in the future. 

"As the largest children’s hospice in the UK and Europe, we have a duty to continue our campaign for long-term sustainable funding for all children’s hospices. 

"The children and families we support deserve the certainty and reassurance that the care they desperately need is safe, now and in the future.” 

Compton Care in Wolverhampton received a grant of £217,778.

Rachel Overfield, CEO of Compton Care, said: “This much-needed funding will be used to enhance patient facilities allowing us to continue to deliver expert, compassionate care to patients and their families. 

"Many people assume hospices are fully funded by the Government, but in reality, as a charity as well as a provider of core NHS activity, we rely heavily on community donations. 

"This investment will help us bridge the gap and ensure that no one in our care faces their journey alone. 

"As the fund has a restricted use and will not resolve our current deficit position, the need to raise funds via the NHS and through our own fundraising activity will continue to be essential to ensure the sustainability of our services into the future.“

“We continue to have ambitious plans that include further expansion of our specialist services, ensuring more people receive the care and support they deserve. Injections of funds like this will certainly help progress these, allowing us to enhance and grow our services for the community.”

St Giles Hospice in Lichfield received a grant of £213,793.

Elinor Eustace, CEO of St Giles Hospice, said: "We are incredibly grateful for this vital funding from the Government, which comes at a crucial time for St Giles Hospice. 

"This support will enable us to make meaningful improvements to our Inpatient Unit, enhancing the experience for patients and their families during what can be an incredibly difficult time. 

"From upgrading patient facilities to improving our family spaces, this investment will help ensure we can continue providing the highest quality end-of-life care for our local community.

"While this immediate funding is essential and deeply appreciated, we remain focused on working with partners to develop sustainable long-term solutions for hospice care funding. 

"Every pound invested in hospice care makes a real difference to families across our region when they need us most."

Katharine House in Stafford received a grant of £97,658.

Katharine House Hospice’s CEO, Dr Richard Soulsby, said: “This is welcome news, the government has heard our concerns as a sector and is injecting short term investment to help us provide high-quality palliative care through hospices across the country.

“People are recognising the hugely positive impact of hospices and our vital role within our communities in delivering outstanding compassionate care.

“The need for hospice care in the UK is projected to increase substantially over the coming years, and hospices face increasing financial challenges.

“In Staffordshire, an increase in need will place pressure on our charity, which already relies heavily on support and funding from supporters to provide its essential services.

“The capital investment is very welcome, but it needs to be a first step by government to the creation of a sustainable hospice funding model.

“We need to resolve the issue of longer-term sustainability of hospices and with employers’ costs rising at 10% per annum for the last three years, revenue funding is still needed for day-to-day expenses.

“We are currently part of a national campaign run by Hospice UK and backed by 142 other hospices across the country urging the public to find out more about the vital role we play in our communities and the growing need to sustain hospice care.

“We hope this spotlight on hospice care and funding and the need for access to better palliative care ultimately helps us support more families who need us from day one of diagnosis of an incurable illness, through to end of life.”

Other hospices in the region receiving funding included Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge, which received £83,256, Severn Hospice, which received £229,964 and Hope House, which received £144,966.

Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock said: "This is the largest investment in a generation to help transform hospice facilities across England. 

"From upgrading patient rooms to improving gardens and outdoor spaces, this funding will make a real difference to people at the end of their lives. 

"Hospices provide invaluable care and support when people need it most and this funding boost will ensure they are able to continue delivering exceptional care in better, modernised facilities.”  

The immediate cash injection will enable hospices to purchase essential new medical equipment, undertake building refurbishments, improve technology, upgrade facilities for patients and families and implement energy efficiency measures.  

The larger £75 million investment will support more substantial capital projects, including major building works and facility modernisation, throughout the next financial year.  

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