Three-quarters of hospices in England are already running a deficit this year, new figures reveal, as the sector warns it is heading towards a financial cliff edge.
Three-quarters of hospices in England have reported they are in deficit at this point in the financial year, up from 70% at the same time last year, which was already the worst year on record for the hospice sector.
Data from Hospice UK shows the situation is continuing to deteriorate, with 83% of hospices expecting their financial position to be worse than last year. At least 25 hospices have made cuts to services since April last year, while two in five are planning further cuts in the year ahead.
Healthcare Today reported in December that there were 380 beds out of use in hospices across England, up by over 25% since last year, when it was revealed that 300 beds were out of use in English hospices.
This came on the back of a warning that two-in-five hospices were planning to make cuts. The number of beds that have either been fully de-registered or taken out of operation during the year accounts for nearly 140,000 days and nights of care unavailable.
“Hospices are stuck in a doom loop. Last year was the worst financial year on record, and this year is looking even worse,” said Hospice UK chief executive Toby Porter.
“We can’t fundraise our way out of this crisis; skydiving won’t save hospices. We urgently need fair and long-term NHS funding to avoid a financial cliff edge,” he added.
