Local hospice care providers like Hospiscare and Sidmouth Hospice at Home provide incredible support and comfort to so many in East Devon.
I’ve been calling on NHS Devon to increase local hospice funding after figures revealed its contributions to some providers are well below the national average - and that some providers aren't receiving any funding at all.
ICBs – rather than the government or NHS England – are responsible for determining hospice care funding.
Following persistent campaigning and my debate in Parliament, I’m delighted that Hospiscare is receiving nearly half-a-million pounds to boost its budget for the next year - bringing NHS Devon's contribution to the charity to 24% temporarily.
Though a step in the right direction, this is woefully below the ICB offer in other counties and the national average of 37%.
Dr. Sarah Wollaston, Chair of NHS Devon, still needs to provide more funding to our brilliant hospices, comparable with nearby counties, and include other local providers such as Sidmouth Hospice at Home who don’t receive a penny from NHS Devon.
Many of our loved ones will need the support provided by local hospice charities and their brilliant teams. It's time for Dr. Wollaston and Devon’s NHS bosses to provide them with fair hospice funding, once and for all.
Sign my petition below for fairer local hospice funding from NHS Devon.
The more who sign, the better case we can make.
NHS Devon must finally listen to us and give our hospice care providers the funding they need and deserve ⬇️