Statement from Saint Francis Hospice on the National Audit Office Report into the Financial Sustaina

Saint Francis Hospice welcomes the publication of the National Audit Office’s (NAO) report into the financial sustainability of England’s adult hospice sector. The report provides a timely and necessary spotlight on the growing financial pressures facing hospices across the country, which we fully support. 

The NAO’s findings confirm what we have known for some time, that the current funding model for hospices is not sustainable. Hospices across the country are under immense pressure. Rising costs, shrinking reserves, and the cost-of-living crisis are making it harder to raise funds and this has already led to hospices cutting vital services to their communities. 

While Saint Francis Hospice is not currently closing services, almost 70% of our funding comes from donations and charitable giving and we are operating in a deficit budget this year. The threat to our services is very real.  

We strongly support the call for long-term, fair, and sustainable funding for hospices. The report rightly highlights the need for significant changes in how hospices are supported and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England. We echo the call for more consistent commissioning practices, greater transparency, and a strategic approach to funding that reflects the essential role hospices play in the health and care system. 

Wes Streeting, our local MP for Ilford North and the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care, recently visited our hospice, and we feel encouraged by the Health Secretaries personal commitment to supporting the hospice sector into the future in the best way that he can. 

Despite these challenges, our commitment remains unwavering. We continue to work in partnership with others and remain dedicated to our vision: the best end of life care for all. We are proud to provide compassionate, palliative and end of life care to everyone in our community who needs it, regardless of their circumstances. 

We urge policymakers, commissioners, and the public to recognise the value of hospice care and to act on the NAO’s recommendations. The sustainability of our sector is not just a financial issue; it is a matter of ensuring the best possible experience at the end of life for all people.