Strathcarron joins forces with other hospices to issue warning over funding crisis

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Strathcarron has joined forces with other hospices across the country to warn of a funding crisis over rising running costs.The Denny hospice has to raise almost £120,000 every week to continue providing its services to users and their families.But increases in everything from wage bills to heating costs over recent months and years have piled on the pressure.This week Strathcarron appealed to “valued supporters” to challenge the Scottish Government on better state funding in its next budget and to sign an online letter to local MSPs.Mags McCarthy, Strathcarron Hospice CEO said: “Strathcarron, like all other local hospices, is funded by the communities it serves.“As a charity, we need to raise £116,459 every single week to provide all specialist end of life and palliative care services.

We rely on the incredible generosity of local people to raise the shortfall that the NHS don’t fund.“Our hospice services support over 400 people a week in their own homes across Forth Valley and North Lanarkshire areas.

That is as many as we care for in our In-Patient Unit.“Since 2006, the hospice has seen a steady increase in referrals - now 76 per cent higher - and despite this, the NHS have not funded additional posts and we have had to meet all the cost pressures through supporter donations.“To match NHS rates of pay to recruit and retain our staff will significantly push up our wage bill.

This could be devastating for the hospice and we are feeling enormous pressure.“We are incredibly grateful to our generous supporters, without their donations, we just could not carry on.”Strathcarron is also a signatory on a Scottish Hospice Leadership Group letter outlining the current funding crisis across all hospices.