Funding boost helps ensure future sustainability of hospices across North West London

• NHS North West London Integrated Care Board (ICB) announces £10.7m funding boost for hospices which will secure the provision of care for more people living and dying in North West London.
• The announcement follows a collaborative commissioning approach with the hospices delivering care and the communities they serve.
• The funding boost will help ensure the future sustainability of the hospices serving people across North West London but charitable hospices remain reliant on the generosity of these communities to continue providing care.

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NHS North West London has announced a transformative commitment to improving end of life care for Londoners that will help safeguard the future of palliative care in the area, including the care provided by St John's Hospice.

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At an NHS North West London board meeting on 23 July, this bold approach to securing greater funding for hospices was supported due to the clear benefits for residents to access equitable, quality care across eight boroughs, and its value for money.

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The decision from NHS North West London, against the backdrop of a national hospice funding crisis, demonstrates the benefits to patient care that can be secured through a collaborative commissioning approach with charitable providers.

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The ICB has committed to meeting 50% of the costs of funding for palliative care for people in North West London, a major step up from its previous 33%. The funding boost will mean that more people in North West London are supported to be cared for and die in their preferred place, by securing the long-term sustainability of the hospices that provide this specialist care.

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While hospice care is not fully funded by the NHS, ICBs are responsible for commissioning specialist palliative and end of life care, which is delivered primarily through charitable hospices. The hospices that will benefit from the additional financial support to provide at-home and in-hospice palliative care for people in North West London are: St John’s Hospice, St Luke’s Hospice (Harrow & Brent), Harlington Hospice, and Royal Trinity Hospice. Funding is also included for the NHS in boroughs where there is no charitable hospice. Together, the hospices across North West London provide free, specialist palliative and end of life care in the community and in their hospice inpatient beds for over 10,000 people living in North West London every year.

This announcement offers a game-changing boost to the hospices; however, they continue to rely heavily on the generosity of the communities they serve to raise the additional funds needed to provide their specialist care throughout North West London.

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Simon James, Chief Executive at St John’s Hospice said:

“For too long, the community of North West London has been subject to what can only be described as a palliative care postcode lottery due to funding limitations. This news is a hugely positive step forward by NHS North West London ICB, which will help ensure that all those living in our catchment get the opportunity to access specialist care when they need it most.

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“St John’s Hospice is delighted to finally be able to extend our Hospice@Home service as well as enhance all our other services thanks to this additional NHS funding. We are also truly grateful for the generosity of our local community, whose support helps fill our remaining funding gaps, allowing us to continue supporting our patients and their loved ones.”

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Lindsey Bennister, Chief Executive at St Luke’s Hospice (Harrow & Brent) said:

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“St Luke’s Hospice (Harrow & Brent) welcomes this fantastic news of additional and sustainable funding for charitable hospices in North West London. At a time when hospices are struggling to fund their vital services, this increase in funding is game changing for our communities in North West London. It ensures that hospice services are protected into the future and the service cuts we are seeing in other parts of the country can be avoided in North West London. It enables hospices to focus on providing accessible and enhanced care at home and to continue to provide emotional and bereavement support for families across the region.

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“This is a great example of collaborative working between hospice partners and the ICB, with involvement from the local community, which will have a profound impact on the support and care available for people with life-limiting illnesses.”

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Jane Wheeler, Chief Executive at Harlington Hospice said:

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“This news will have a clear positive impact on people across North West London. People with life-limiting illnesses deserve to have a pain-free, dignified death in the place that they choose. The news of NHS North West London’s additional funding shows that they recognise and are committed to ensuring their entire population can access this.

“At a time when the UK hospice sector is struggling to stay afloat and many hospices are closing beds, NHS North West London’s commitment to a fair and sustainable package for hospices is commendable. They are prioritising the people who will need our care in the future by helping to secure the future of our hospices”

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Emily Carter, Chief Executive at Royal Trinity Hospice said:

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“This is incredible news for people in north west London and this funding boost will safeguard their local hospices into the future. NHS North West London has really listened to residents and worked collaboratively with hospice partners, and the new model of care and fairer hospice funding being introduced will have a profound impact on the lives and deaths of local people.

“NHS North West London is showing the rest of the country what is possible, and I hope other NHS commissioners follow their example to prevent further service cuts to hospice care elsewhere.”

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Rob Hurd, Chief Executive of NHS North West London, said:

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“Charitable hospices play a vital role in delivering compassionate, high-quality care for people at the end of their lives. At a time of increasing financial pressure across the health and care system, we are increasing funding to both NHS and charitable services in north west London to help protect and strengthen the care our communities rely on. This additional investment reflects our deep appreciation for the work of our hospice partners and our commitment to ensuring everyone can access the support they need, with dignity, when and where they need it most.”
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Notes to editors‍

About the hospices
St John’s Hospice: St John’s Hospice celebrates and amplifies life, enabling people to live well for as long as possible. Each year, we provide quality, holistic care to more than 4,000 people across North London. Contact: Alicia Conti, Senior Marketing and Communications Manager, 020 3370 1032, alicia.conti@hje.org.uk.

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St Luke’s Hospice: St Luke's is a charity providing specialist end of life and palliative care to people in Harrow and Brent. We aim to give the people we care for the best possible quality of life, each and every day, focusing on what matters most to them is at the centre of our care. Contact: Kadiya Qasem, Head of Communications and Marketing, 020 8382 8000, kqasem@stlukes-hospice.org.

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Harlington Hospice: At Harlington Hospice, we’re here to support people living with serious or terminal illness in the London Borough of Hillingdon and surrounding areas ensuring everybody can access the care and support they need to be able to live each of their days in their own way, to the fullest. Contact Anne Purdie, Business Manager, 020 8106 9222, apurdie@michaelsobellhospice.org.

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Royal Trinity Hospice: Providing holistic, specialist care to people across central and south west London and those they love, to support them to live and die well. Contact: Polly Balsom, Associate Director of Communications and Engagement, Royal Trinity Hospice, 0207 787 1000,  pbalsom@royaltrinityhospice.london.