Willen Hospice meets MPs in urgent reform push.
An MK charity has joined parliamentarians in Westminster as part of Hospice UK’s national campaign launch calling for urgent reform of hospice funding.
Willen Hospice, from Willen Village, is backing the scheme – Fair Funding for Hospices – which sets out a four-point plan to make hospice funding fair, transparent and sustainable, ensuring everyone in the UK can access high-quality palliative and end-of-life care.
Willen Hospice Chief Executive Kate Broadhurst, met with local MPs Callum Anderson, Emily Darlington and Chris Curtis to share how national reform could transform hospice care for people across Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas.
“We’re proud to represent Milton Keynes in Westminster, standing alongside Hospice UK to call for a fair and sustainable funding model for hospice care,” said Kate Broadhurst.
“At Willen Hospice, we provide vital support for many local people every year, yet only 12.7% of our costs are met through ongoing NHS funding. The proposed reform would allow us to focus on caring for patients and families rather than constantly bridging the funding gaps.”
Hospice UK’s plan calls for:
- Full NHS funding for specialist palliative care provided by hospices
- Fair, multi-year NHS contracts that reflect the real cost of services
- Parity in pay awards so hospice staff receive equivalent pay rises to NHS colleagues
- Fair access everywhere so people’s postcodes don’t determine the quality of care they can access
“Willen Hospice is a powerful example of why reform is urgently needed. Despite providing exceptional care for its community, it receives barely half the national average in NHS funding,” said Toby Porter, Chief Executive of Hospice UK.
“This kind of inequity exists across the country and threatens the sustainability of services that thousands of families depend on. The government must act to create a fair, consistent funding system so every hospice can plan confidently for the future.”
Willen Hospice supports this national approach while continuing to lobby locally for equitable funding from the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (ICB).
“National reform will take time, but change can also start locally. We’re working closely with our ICB, Milton Keynes University Hospital and community nursing partners to secure fairer funding in the short term and ensure every person in the Milton Keynes area receives the compassionate care they deserve,” said Kate.
“Willen Hospice is a cornerstone of our community, and I know from first-hand experience just how compassionate and dedicated their staff are, and how much they help people through some of the most difficult times in their lives,” said Chris Curtis, MP for Milton Keynes North.
“I fully support the campaign for a sustainable national approach to hospice funding, so hospices like Willen can keep delivering the care our community depends on,” said Emily Darlington, MP for Milton Keynes Central.
“It’s essential that hospices like Willen are given fair, sustainable funding so they can continue providing this vital service. I’m pleased to support their call for reform through Hospice UK’s campaign,” added Callum Anderson, MP for Buckingham and Bletchley.
More information on Willen Hospice here: www.willen-hospice.org.uk/strategy.
