The Scandal of Hospice Funding
The back-to-front NHS
About 380 of the 2,000 hospice beds in England are vacant due to financial pressures, as staffing and care costs remain high. Hospices are managed by charities, with up to three-quarters of their income coming from donations and fundraising.
The crisis has also led to closures: On December 18th, Richard House Children’s Hospice closed after supporting children and their families in east London for over 25 years.
Less than a third of Richard House’s funding came from the NHS, meaning it relied heavily on public donations and charity income. Rising costs after the pandemic and a drop in donations made the financial situation untenable.
Families initiated the Save Richard House campaign, urging people to sign a petition, contact MPs, and advocate for action. They believe the crisis was avoidable and are calling for interim governance and transparency from the trustees.
In 2025, Marie Curie Hospice (Woolton, Liverpool) permanently closed its 26-bed inpatient unit due to staffing and financi…
