An additional £3 million funding will help Wales’ 12 NHS-commissioned hospices, meet financial pressures.
Hospices in Wales will receive additional funding to help them continue to provide palliative and end-of-life care.
The £5.5 million cash injection is in addition to the £3 million uplift in recurrent funding announced in the 2025 to 2026 budget. It will help Wales’ 12 NHS-commissioned hospices, which include the two children’s hospices, meet financial pressures.
“Hospices play a vital role in supporting families at some of the most difficult times,” said health secretary Jeremy Miles.
“We are committed to strengthening and improving palliative and end-of-life care to ensure everyone who needs hospice support receives dignified and personalised support outside of hospital,” he continued.
Welcome news
The news was welcomed by the industry.
“We welcome the Welsh government’s commitment of funding. It is a testament to the importance of the hospice sector within our healthcare system, and we are immensely grateful. Our services provide vital care and support to over 20,000 children and adults affected by terminal illnesses each year,” said Liz Booyse, chair of Hospices Cymru.
“This funding is a significant step forward, and we will continue our efforts to work in partnership with the Welsh government to achieve a sustainable funding settlement that will bring greater stability to the Welsh hospice sector,” she added.
“Recent years have been very tough for Wales’s hospices, amid a combination of rapidly rising costs and ever-growing need for end-of-life care,” said Matthew Brindley, policy and advocacy manager for Wales at Hospice UK. “Our population is ageing, with people’s health becoming more complex to manage. We need a strong, robust palliative and end-of-life care system and hospices in Wales are ready to play their part,” he continued.
