Families in Barrow and Furness will start to see improved end-of-life care as the government brings in major upgrades to hospice services nationwide.
After lobbying hard on behalf of St Mary’s Hospice, local MP Michelle Scrogham MP welcomed the biggest investment in a generation for hospices, ensuring that hospices can continue to deliver the highest quality end of life care possible for their patients, families, and loved ones.
The improvements will help ensure that during life’s most challenging moments, patients and their loved ones receive the highest quality care in the most appropriate and comfortable settings.
Hospices will begin receiving £25 million for facility upgrades and refurbishments from today as part of the biggest investment into hospices in a generation. The cash will be distributed immediately for the 2024/25 financial year, with a further £75 million to follow from April.
The immediate cash injection, allocated through Hospice UK from the Department of Health and Social Care, will enable hospices to purchase essential new medical equipment, undertake building refurbishments, improve technology, upgrade facilities for patients and families and implement energy efficiency measures.
The larger £75 million investment will support more substantial capital projects – including major building works and facility modernisation – throughout the next financial year.
St Mary’s Hospice will receive £86,382 in the first wave of funding. Michelle Scrogham MP said the funding “will make a real difference for St Mary’s who do such a wonderful job supporting local families.
The cash forms a key part of the government’s Plan for Change, improving care in the community where people need it most.
Michelle Scrogham MP said:
“We all know someone who has benefited from the wonderful care provided by St Mary’s. I know from my own experiences with close family members how important good end of life care is. I’m delighted that the Labour government has allocated this important funding to our hospices.
“We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life.
“I met with St Mary’s most recently last week and I know what a wonderful job they do. This government funding will make a real difference to the service they can provide.”
Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock said:
“This is the largest investment in a generation to help transform hospice facilities across England. From upgrading patient rooms to improving gardens and outdoor spaces, this funding will make a real difference to people at the end of their lives.
“Hospices provide invaluable care and support when people need it most and this funding boost will ensure they are able to continue delivering exceptional care in better, modernised facilities.”