Community support ‘essential’ to future of local hospice care

The results of a survey in which over half of UK hospices participated, including ellenor, was released by Hospice UK and Together for Short Lives this week. Sadly, the results indicate a gloomy outlook for nearly 20% of participating hospices who reported that their funding had suffered cuts.

The report deduced that ‘funding for hospices is fragile’ after further statistics revealed that over two thirds of hospices have had their statutory funding frozen or cut by NHS commissioners for 2014/15, and for more than half it has remained static.

Hazel South, Clinical Contracts and Information Manager for ellenor commented:

“Whilst we are aware of the challenges faced by the NHS and councils, this report now proves that the reality hospices are faced with is far from easy. ellenor works hard to continue to receive around a quarter of our annual care costs. We are very fortunate in having a good relationship with our commissioner atDartford, Gravesham and Swanley (DGS) CCG. They are keen to demonstrate our value in the wider health economy to enable us to receive fairer funding, and are also investing more time with ellenor to look at the new palliative care currency that is being proposed.”

As a charity, not part of the NHS, ellenor needs to raise £6.7 million a year to provide its world-leading care services to patients and families across North and West Kent and the London Borough of Bexley. Static funding makes it harder to sustain the increasing demand for services year upon year.

Rachel Holweger, Director of Fundraising for ellenor added: “Now more than ever, it is onlythrough the generosity of our local community that we are able to provide the level of services that we currently achieve. We are so grateful to each and every supporter of ellenor for enabling us to continue providing care to families facing terminal illness, however we still need to raise more money to be able to develop our services and meet the needs of our community as demand increases.”

To find out how you can support ellenor, please visit www.ellenor.org or call the Fundraising team on 01322 626504.