Local MP supports hospice funding fight
Local MP Martin Vickers praised the “absolutely superb care” provided by St Andrew’s Hospice as he supported the sector’s fight for sustainable funding at a House of Commons debate this week.
Mr Vickers, MP for Brigg and Immingham, was speaking at a general debate on hospice palliative care, which allowed MPs to emphasise the urgent need to addressing challenges in access to sustainable palliative end of life care.
Responding on behalf of the government, Minister of Care Stephen Kinnock MP outlined its ambition for every person to receive holistic, high-quality and patient-centred palliative and end of life care from diagnosis until the end of their lives.
Speaking during the debate, Mr Vickers said one of his aims was to “praise his local hospices”, voicing “particular affection” for St Andrew’s Hospice.
“My father passed away in its care, and my mother actually died on the day she was supposed to move in,” he continued. “That was more than 30 years ago; I have seen how they have developed in the years since, and they continue to provide absolutely superb care.
“Of course, demand is increasing: demographics have changed, and people are living longer. Hospices do actually ease the burden on the NHS.”
Mr Vickers, who visited St Andrew’s last week, described voluntary donations as “crucial” to the hospice, before outlining key services such as adult in-patient care, children’s hospice at home sessions, physiotherapy, creative therapy and spiritual care.
“The cost of operating all parts of the charity in 2024-25 is more than £18,000 a day; only four years ago, it was £14,000 a day – a significant rise, as Members will appreciate. Some 80% of that cost has to be earned or raised by the hospice, which, in times of economic challenge, is increasingly difficult.
“Its statutory income for ’24-’25 is expected to be only 21.5% of its total income. Currently, for every £1 of statutory income, St Andrew’s has to raise £4.60, posing a considerable financial challenge for the hospice, the volunteers and the fundraisers.
“As we know, healthcare inflation runs ahead of general inflation, and hospices have to try to keep pace with statutory salary increases related to the national minimum wage. As with the social enterprises that provide social care in North East Lincolnshire, hospice staff do not automatically get the increases that go to NHS workers, and the gap is inevitably widening.
“St Andrew’s gets only 21% of its income through statutory contributions, which I understand is about 12% below the national average; this has come about because of a whole series of historical adjustments.
“My plea to the Minister is that St Andrew’s is brought up to the national average as soon as possible.”
Chief Executive Michelle Rollinson said: “We have been vocal in support of our sector's campaign for long-term, sustainable funding, and very much welcomed this week's House of Commons debate on the subject. Mr Vickers is a long-time supporter of St Andrew's Hospice, and we were heartened to hear him speak so passionately about the quality of the care and support we provide our community.
“It costs us more than £18,000 a day to deliver our services. For every £1 of statutory income, we rely on the generosity of our community to raise a further £4.60, which poses a considerable financial challenge to the hospice, volunteers, fundraisers and our wider supporters.
“We know the number of people needing hospice care is rising significantly year on year. Along with the announced increases in National Insurance contributions and National Minimum Wage, this will add further to the financial burden faced by the sector, and we have seen a number of hospices nationally announce cuts to services and staff as a result.
“Now is the time for the Government and NHS to act, by putting in a place a fairer and consistent funding framework that will secure hospice care for everyone who needs it.”
Watch the full debate online here.