Hospice care should be there for everyone who needs it, wherever they live. But right now, access to hospice care can depend too much on where you live, how much local communities can raise and whether funding is available.
This Hospice Care Week, we’re calling for change.
Hospice care shouldn’t depend on luck
Hospices provide essential care for people and families at one of the most difficult times in their lives. But the way hospice care is funded means its future can be uncertain.
Funding isn’t fair
The amount of government funding hospices receive varies significantly. This means the care available to people can depend on where they live.
Demand is rising
More people are likely to need palliative and end of life care in the years ahead. Hospices are already under increasing pressure to meet demand.
Services are under pressure
Rising costs and an unreliable funding model are forcing hospices to make difficult decisions about the services they can provide.
Hospice care should not be a postcode lottery.
-
3,000+
people cared for by Farleigh each year
-
13
beds on our Inpatient Unit
-
90%
of our care is provided in the community or in people's homes
But we can’t take hospice care for granted.
Our services rely on a combination of government funding and charitable income. Donations, fundraising, gifts in Wills, our shops and the support of our local community all help us continue providing care.
In conversation with Michelle Kabia
What does it mean to make sure hospice care is there for everyone who needs it?
In this Hospice Care Week article, our Chief Executive, Michelle Kabia talks about the pressures facing hospice care, why access can depend too much on where people live and why we need to rethink how hospice care is funded.
What is hospice care?
Hospice care is about helping people live as well as possible when they are living with a life-limiting illness.
It can help with physical symptoms such as pain, as well as the emotional, social and practical challenges that can come with serious illness.
At Farleigh, this can include:
- Inpatient care for people who need specialist support
- Community care for people at home
- Pain and symptom management
- Living Well services
- Support for families and carers
- Complementary therapy
- Support towards the end of life
It’s not just about the end of life. It’s about helping people live well for as long as possible.
Don’t leave hospice care to chance
Everyone deserves high-quality hospice care, whoever they are and wherever they live.
This Hospice Care Week, we’re asking people to help make sure hospice care has a sustainable future.
There are different ways you can help:
Support Farleigh
Your support helps us continue providing care to people and families across mid Essex.
Share the campaign
Help more people understand why hospice care matters and why it shouldn’t depend on chance.
Find out more
Learn more about hospice care and the difference it can make.
Hospice care should be there when people need it.
It shouldn’t depend on luck.
It shouldn’t depend on where you live.
It shouldn’t depend on whether a local community happens to be able to raise enough.
It should be there for all, for now, forever.
Don’t leave hospice care to chance.