Many people think hospice care is only there for the final stages of someone’s life, but it’s so much more than that. It’s specialist care that reaches into homes, communities and families, offering support that goes far beyond medical needs, and it’s delivered free of charge to hundreds of thousands of people across the UK each year.
Hospices support around 300,000 people every year across the UK, alongside 60,000 family members, carers and friends. Yet with NHS and government funding covering, on average, less than a third of hospice costs, and with a national funding crisis affecting services everywhere, hospices are under significant financial pressure.
In response, three Sussex based hospices – St Catherine’s Hospice, St Wilfrid’s Hospice (Eastbourne) and St Michael’s Hospice – are taking part in a national campaign coordinated by Hospice UK, which shines a light on the importance of protecting hospice care for the future.
The This is Hospice Care campaign aims to raise awareness of hospice services, shift public perceptions of hospice care, and highlight the vital role that gifts in Wills play in sustaining hospice charities for the future.
Giles Tomsett, Chief Executive of St Catherine’s Hospice in Crawley said, “Gifts in Wills are vital to help us fund our specialist palliative care that so many people in our community rely on. With the hospice funding crisis continuing to impinge on the sustainability of hospice services to dying people across the UK, donations through Wills help St Catherine’s safeguard our care and make a lasting and positive impact.
“Every legacy gift, no matter the size, helps ensure that people can be cared for with dignity and compassion at the most difficult time of their lives.”
Gifts in Wills are essential to the survival and growth of hospices across the UK. On average, these gifts fund the care of one in four patients. Every gift, regardless of size, helps hospices reach more people at a time when as many as 90% of those who die in the UK could benefit from palliative care.
Leaving a gift in a Will is a meaningful and personal way to support your local hospice and ensure that compassionate care continues for generations to come.
David has left a gift to St Catherine’s in his Will after the hospice cared for his wife Pauline. David said: ““I’ll always remember Pauline telling me she felt safe at the hospice. That was such a relief. The staff were so welcoming. It doesn’t matter how much you leave in your Will, any donation would be very welcome. Leave what you can afford.”
Richard, who volunteers at St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Eastbourne, echoes this sentiment: “I’m leaving a gift in my will because I see day to day how well patients are treated and the benefits of being at St Wilfrid’s. When I speak to patients, they always say they were so relieved to get to the hospice. It would be very sad if we lost it due to lack of funds.”
To find out how to leave a gift in your Will and help hospice care continue for all, for now, forever, visit thisishospicecare.org.uk.
