£6.3m support package to help hospices across Wales during Covid-19 outbreak

A three-month package worth up to £6.3 million to provide additional support to hospices across Wales, has been announced.

Hospice services in Wales rely on charitable fundraising for around two thirds of their income and have experienced a short-fall in funding during the coronavirus outbreak.

The recent restrictions imposed during the outbreak have led to a drastic drop in that income as fundraising events are cancelled, charity shops close and campaigns paused.

At the same time, the crisis is making their services even more essential.

The funding announced will enable them to continue to provide their vital services even in the absence of this fundraising activity.

It comes from the £1.1bn fighting fund created by the Welsh Government to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething said: “I’m very pleased to be able to announce this support for our hospices to keep running during this difficult period.

“As their normal charitable income dries up there is a very serious risk that hospice and end of life care services could slip into insolvency.

“Hospice and end of life care services provided by the voluntary sector are a critical part of the NHS family, providing essential care to more than 20,000 people in Wales each year, and helping to prevent avoidable admission to hospital.

“As the NHS prioritises treatment and care for people with COVID-19, hospice and end of life care services are more important than ever, providing service continuity to people affected by terminal illness.

“This money will ensure they can continue to provide those vital services and high-quality care across Wales.”

Responding to the announcement that hospices are to share £6.3m in funding, Shadow Minister for Health, Angela Burns AM, said: “Hospices put a high value on dignity and respect of the person who is ill, and given that we’re in the midst of a pandemic they’re more important than ever.

“Hospices are working extremely hard to support communities through this difficult time, but for them to continue to deliver first-class services, more money is needed to be pumped into the sector.

“The Welsh Government has announced hospices are to share £6.3m in funding, Although this is beneficial, as the Welsh Conservatives have urged, we feel the sum needs to be upped to £10 million. If our call is answered then many gaps in the sector will be filled.”