UK Hospices Receive £100m Funding Boost But Concerns Over Sustainability Persist

The government announces the largest hospice investment in decades, but questions remain about its ability to offset rising costs and long-term challenges.

The UK government has pledged £100 million to support adult and children's hospices in England, calling it the largest investment in the sector in a generation.
An additional £26 million will be allocated to children’s hospices for the 2025/26 financial year under the continuation of the Children’s Hospice Grant program.
Hospice organisations welcomed the funding but warned it is a one-off investment that does not address recurring financial pressures, including rising employer national insurance costs.
Government officials have not confirmed whether the funding will cover the increased costs from recent national insurance changes, which charities estimate could cost hospices £30 million annually.
Calls for a sustainable funding framework and a comprehensive palliative care strategy have intensified, with some advocates highlighting the growing demand for end-of-life care over the next two decades.