The UK Government has announced a substantial £75m ($100.67m) funding increase for hospices across England, aimed at delivering significant upgrades and enhancements to their facilities.
More than 170 institutions are set to benefit from the allocation.
This release of funds follows a £25m increase in February and fulfils the government's commitment to a £100m investment, announced in December.
This investment is part of the government's Plan for Change, which aims to improve care within the community by supporting urgent building repairs and the creation of more homely spaces within hospices.
Wigan and Leigh Hospice, recently visited by Health Minister Stephen Kinnock, used its previous funds to address a leaking roof and now plans to replace its heating system with the new investment.
UK Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said: “End-of-life care is crucial to our 10 Year Health Plan and our fundamental shift of moving more care out of hospital and into the community. We will continue to support hospices so they can deliver their vital work.”
Across the country, hospices have already made improvements with the aid of government funding, which has enabled the modernisation of facilities, major building works, and digital transformations for enhanced data sharing between healthcare providers.
In addition, outreach services have been developed to extend care beyond the confines of hospice buildings, and energy efficiency measures are in place to enhance sustainability.
An example of this is the refurbishment of the integrated procedures unit by Garden House Hospice Care, located in Stevenage. It has added eight new specially adapted beds and mattresses, and a separate room for patients' families.
The hospice has also provided its nurses with laptops, enabling them to record notes electronically and become paperless, thus allowing them to dedicate more time to patient care.
The new funding, which is part of the 2025/2026 financial year, is set to be distributed by Hospice UK, which will manage the process without charging administration fees.
Hospices have been allocated specific funding amounts and can proceed with their planned upgrades, invoicing Hospice UK upon completion of the work.
