Wales’ hospice and palliative care sector plays an exceptional role in providing high quality end of life care and support to families up and down Wales.
Regretfully, the hospice and palliative care sector has recently faced unprecedented financial pressures as a result of Employers’ National Insurance increases, workforce shortages, and an increase in demand.
In the Senedd today, the Welsh Conservatives brought forward a debate recognising the vital role that the hospice and palliative care sector plays, and outlined our commitment to develop a new sustainable funding model for hospices in Wales including an additional £40 million over the next Senedd term.
This debate took place before the Senedd votes on the Legislative Consent Motion on The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill next month.
Commenting after speaking in the debate, Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Paul Davies MS, said:
“I am disappointed that Labour did not support our much-needed support package for the hospice and palliative care sector.
“Substantial tax rises have forced the sector to make difficult decisions. They are in need of certainty and a new, sustainable funding model.
“The Welsh Conservatives have a credible plan to support hospices and palliative care and we are the only party putting money on the table to secure the long-term future of this vital sector.”
Welcoming the debate, Marie Curie Cymru Policy and Public Affairs Manager Dr Tomos Evans, said:
“This week’s debate is an important reminder that hospice services are an integral part of our palliative and end of life care system which is under huge pressure. Too many people are spending their final days isolated, in pain and struggling to make ends meet.
“In Wales, almost a fifth of hospital beds are occupied by people in their last 12 months of life, and one in 14 emergency department attendances relates to someone at end of life. This tells us the system is struggling to support dying people and those close to them.
“More people need to get the right care, in the right place – and we need to reduce avoidable trips to A&E. As the UK’s leading end of life charity, we know hospices and hospice care services in the community are key to providing care and support to people at end of life and those close to them.
“Placing hospices on a sustainable financial footing must be part of the solution, alongside clear leadership and action to fully integrate palliative and end of life care across health and social care.
“With demand for palliative and end of life care set to increase in the coming years, we need to see a transformation to our palliative and end of life care system. Political parties, the incoming Welsh Government and health leaders must urgently take the action needed to ensure our palliative and end of life care system is fit for purpose.”
Also commenting, Matthew Brindley, Policy and Advocacy Manager for Wales at Hospice UK:
“The current funding model for hospice and palliative care is not working. On average 70 per cent of hospice care costs are funded by charitable donations but this large reliance on the kindness of the public is unsustainable.
“Without urgent action, we could be looking at more services closing, loss of specialist staff and - crucially - people with life-shortening conditions and their families having less access to the compassionate and high-quality care they need.
“Hospices provide essential palliative care services across Wales, the majority of which are delivered in the community. We have to ensure they are there for everyone who needs them long into the future. That’s why work to safeguard hospice and palliative care must be prioritised by the current and next Welsh Government.”
When the Welsh Conservatives announced our ambition to increase funding for the Hospice and Palliative Care Sector, Tŷ Hafan, said:
“Having asked all political parties to commit to a fair funding pledge for the next Senedd term (2026-2031), the Welsh Conservatives have become the first party to respond to our call for a fair and sustainable funding settlement from 2026.
“A long-term funding uplift would make a real difference – helping us to reach more children with life-shortening conditions and their families, in more parts of Wales, with more choice over where and how they receive vital care.
“This new commitment clearly recognises both the urgency of the situation facing vulnerable families in Wales and the value of our services.
“We now urge all political parties to match this ambition and commit to funding Wales’ children’s hospices fairly. For too long, children’s hospices in Wales have been underfunded – both compared to adult services here, and to children’s services in other parts of the UK.
“This is a question of fairness – and of ensuring no family is left behind.”
The motion which was debated read:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the exceptional work that the hospice and palliative care sector plays in providing high quality end of life care and support to families.
2. Acknowledges the unprecedented financial pressure on Welsh hospices as a result of Employers' National Insurance increases, workforce shortages, and increasing demand for their services.
3. Regrets that a recent survey of hospices in Wales undertaken by Hospice UK found that:
a) 30 per cent are already reducing beds or cutting services;
b) over 70 per cent with inpatient units expect at least one bed to close temporarily or permanently; and
c) three-quarters of hospices fear they will be forced to withdraw support they currently provide to hospitals and care homes.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to develop a new sustainable funding model for hospices in Wales including an additional £40 million over the next Senedd term.
ENDS
Note to editors: The debate in the Welsh Parliament started at around 5.00pm on Wednesday 21st January and can be watched online here.
