Weston Hospice welcomes government funding but warn "it's not going to go very far"
£100 million of funding is being given to hospices across the country
Weston Hospicecare has warned the government's funding for upgrades and refurbishments won't fill the hole in the sector's finances.
The Department for Health and Social Care and the Treasury has confirmed the release of £25 million for hospices across England, with an additional 75 million to be made available from April.
It's part of the largest investment in hospices in a generation and promises to modernise facilities, improve IT systems and ensure patients receive the highest quality care.
More than 170 hospices across the country will receive funding, including Weston Hospicecare and Somerset's St Margaret's.
"This is the largest investment in a generation to help transform hospice facilities across England," said Minister for Care, Stephen Kiccock.
"From upgrading patient rooms to improving gardens and outdoor spaces, this funding will make a real difference to people at the end of their lives.
"Hospices provide invaluable care and support when people need it most and this funding boost will ensure they are able to continue delivering exceptional care in better, modernised facilities."
Bosses at Weston Hospicecare welcome the support, but warn it won't make up for the increase in costs.
"As a headline, it sounds like a lot of money and it is but when you divide it between hundreds across the country, unfortunately it's not going to go very far," said CEO Paul Winspear.
"It never ceases to amaze me the generosity of the British public but we can't escape the fact that households are feeling the squeeze so our ability to grow our income is getting harder and harder.
"The government of course needs to see where they can spend wisely and putting a little bit into the deficits that are being experienced by hospices on a routine basis is money really well spent.
"I would also call on local business. Only 1.6% of our total income comes from corporate.
"If every company in our area supported us even a little bit, a fraction of the way households support us, we would be okay," Paul added.
Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, said: "The announcement before Christmas of £100m of additional funding for hospices in England was a significant boost, and news of the allocation of the first £25m of this funding will be a huge relief for our members.
"Several years of rapidly rising costs have curtailed the extent to which hospices have been able to invest in their infrastructure for the longer term.
"This additional support will enable them to do so - and relieve the immediate pressures on hospice finances.
"The hospice sector is ready to support the government's ambition to shift more care into the community.
"This couldn't be more important for people approaching the end of life, when it's vital to have the right care, in the right place.
"The greater stability provided by the government's funding injection this year and next gives us a golden opportunity to now reform the palliative and end of life care system, so it's fit for the future."