Havens Hospices Interim CEO says government funding needs to change or difficult decisions may be made in the future
She says funding needs to be unrestricted, and made available for paying specialist staff
The Interim CEO of Havens Hospices says that government funding structures need to change, to stop difficult decisions in the future.
The hospice has received over a million pounds from the government, but has to use it to upgrade IT systems and facilities.
Louise Bryan says this money needs to be unrestricted, as they would like to use the money for specialist care staff.
She wants the government to help with the funding of care staff, so that the hospice can use charitable donations for other parts of their care, and experiences they provide.
Louise says the funding is "very welcome", but says "the problem is that the funding is restricted, and the funding can only be used for capital improvements to our buildings and our IT infrastructure, and it can't be used to pay the staff that deliver the care.
"So whilst we're really grateful for this funding, it isn't really solving the problems we currently face across the hospice sector.
"We only receive at Havens Hospices 14% of our income from the government.
"Going forward, if there is future funding available for hospices, which I really hope there is, that it's more predictable and it's longer term funding.
"Across the country I am seeing some of my fellow CEO colleagues having to close their services because they don't have predictable income streams.
"We're not in financial crisis at Havens Hospices right now because of careful planning and support from our community. But what we are seeing across the sector is that others are in crisis, and their funding model has collapsed.
"We are an essential part of the healthcare system. We deliver specialist end of life care in our hospice that is essential, and without proper funding that is at risk."
Louise says that funding from the community is "very generous", thanking everyone that has given money to Havens Hospices.
The Department for Health and Social Care has been contacted for a response.