Fully fund Specialist Palliative Care provided by hospices
Hospices provide vital care yet are dependent on fundraising. Palliative care costs are lower in a hospice than hospital. UK hospices are in financial crisis, having to drastically reduce specialist services for patients and their families or face closure. Hospices urgently need appropriate funding.
Signatures
5,743
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 5,743/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 5,743/100,000
- 01 MAY 2026Petition opened for signaturesCreated by Victoria Bassett
Background
On average just 1/3 of funding for hospices comes from government, forcing over-reliance on charitable giving which is no longer sufficient. Over 50% of hospices were in financial deficit last year and nearly 60% of hospices have made or are considering cuts to vital services. Palliative care needs are projected to increase 25% by 2048. Loss of hospices further increases pressure on hospitals and NHS services, is more costly to the NHS, and results in non-specialist care for palliative patients.