Like a majority of hospices across the UK, Weston Hospicecare is continuing to face very real and increasingly urgent financial pressures. Rising costs and increased demand for our care mean we’re having to make some very difficult decisions to protect the future of our services. We’ve always tried to be open about these challenges, because being here for our community, not just now, but for many years to come, matters enormously to us.
Over the last year, we’ve been taking wide-ranging steps to reduce costs while shielding patient care as much as possible. From renegotiating contracts, securing the best possible energy pricing and working to generate higher income, our teams have been working really hard. Sadly, as is the case for other hospices across the nation, we are struggling to close the funding gap through these measures alone and the growing uncertainty in the world is making this even more challenging. As a result, we have had to make the very difficult decision to make some roles at the hospice redundant.
We know this is incredibly hard. These are our colleagues and friends and we recognise the impact this has on individuals and teams. We are doing everything we can to support those affected and these decisions have only been made after careful consideration of all other options.
We remain intent on seeking out measures to stabilise finances and are continuing to call for fairer funding in collaboration with Hospice UK. Next month, our CEO, Paul Winspear, will be visiting Downing Street with colleagues from some other hospices and Hospice UK, to hand-deliver an open letter to Parliament, calling for urgent Government action. This is an important moment to highlight the pressures hospices are facing nationwide and the need for sustainable funding to secure vital care for local communities.
We’re also preparing to launch our Spring Appeal this April. The funds raised will play a vital part in helping us continue to provide the specialist, compassionate care local families rely on every single day.
What matters most to us remains unchanged: the people we care for. We are doing all we can to avoid any substantial reductions to our services and our priority is to maintain the same high standard of care our community expects from us, with the steps we’re taking now about protecting this care for future generations.
We are so grateful to be part of such a wonderful community, whose support is vital right now. The kindness, generosity and trust of this community mean everything, and we will continue to be transparent in our operations while keeping our focus on ensuring we remain here for local families, free of charge, when they need us most.
–
Can you support Weston Hospicecare this Spring? Make a donation today to keep us caring tomorrow by clicking here.