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Facing the uncertainties that come with the end of life is a difficult journey, one that Paul Thomas from Flint found more manageable after moving into St Kentigern Hospice in St Asaph. Before admission, he was struggling alone at home, but once in the hospice environment, he experienced better control over his pain and anxieties. Reflecting on his time there, Paul expressed gratitude for the care provided, highlighting how the staff helped ease the tension and supported him emotionally. “I think everybody worries when they come to the last stages, no one knows what to expect, but these people are wonderful at relaxing you and they help you an awful lot,” he said.
Despite the vital role hospices play, their continued operation faces serious threats due to an unsustainable funding model, warns Hospice UK. Currently, nine out of the 14 hospices in Wales anticipate financial deficits for the 2025-26 period. This financial strain has already led to the closure of Shalom House Hospice in Pembrokeshire and a temporary shutdown of a four-bed inpatient unit at St David’s Hospice in Holyhead. Hospices Cymru chair Liz Booyse revealed that only about 30% of hospice funding comes from the Welsh government and NHS, with the majority 70% reliant on charitable donations. This imbalance is driving difficult decisions regarding the future availability of services, all while demand is expected to increase by approximately 25% over the next quarter-century.
Personal stories like those of Paul Thomas and John Owen help illustrate the profound impact these facilities have on both patients and their families. John Owen shared memories of his wife Rowena, who spent her final weeks at St Kentigern Hospice after being diagnosed with a rare cancer. He described how the hospice allowed them to create a peaceful and supportive environment, accommodating personal touches such as bringing in their cats and installing a cuddle bed that enabled him to stay by her side around the clock. “It was incredibly sad and hard work but they made it as best as it possibly could be for us,” John recalled. He is now fundraising to provide another cuddle bed for the hospice, emphasizing the need for better funding to preserve such essential care.
The Welsh government acknowledges the critical role hospices play in end-of-life care and states that it has significantly increased investment during this Senedd term. A spokesperson highlighted the provision of an extra £5.2 million annually, alongside more than £9.5 million in one-off grants to help cover rising costs and maintain services. Efforts to develop a new hospice commissioning approach are ongoing, aimed at securing equitable access, long-term viability, and high standards of care throughout Wales. Political parties are also weighing in, with Plaid Cymru promising to explore financial sustainability and governance reforms, the Liberal Democrats calling for reversing National Insurance hikes and ensuring pay parity, and the Welsh Conservatives proposing an additional £40 million in funding coupled with a new sustainable model. Meanwhile, Reform UK and the Welsh Green Party have yet to comment
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