Dorothy House Hospice Care is facing a critical financial shortfall which, without remedy, threatens the specialist end-of-life care it currently provides to patients and families across its 800 square mile patch.
Rising costs, National Insurance and minimum wage hikes, alongside stagnant government funding at 20% of total costs, have had a major impact on the financial sustainability of the hospice.
Known for its innovation, collaboration and CQC-rated outstanding care, Dorothy House is now appealing to MPs, local influencers and its loyal community to stand together to highlight the gravity of the situation.
Chief executive of Dorothy House Hospice Care, Wayne de Leeuw, said, “We urgently need the support of our community and the government to ensure we continue offering the specialist care and support that our patients and their families deserve. No one should face death alone and yet this financial gap places huge pressure on our workforce to make difficult decisions about who can receive our care at a time when we want everyone to have equal access to our specialist support.
“Last year Dorothy House cared for more than 3,000 patients and 1,000 loved ones completely free of charge. We have done this in the face of enormous funding adversity because it is the right thing to do, but now, more than ever, we need help to ensure people can die with dignity.”
The charity is appealing to anyone who will one day need its services to stand with Dorothy House in the face adversity, to help protect vital core services now and into the future. Supporters can attend an event, donate to and visit the shops, run their own fundraiser or simply donate via the website.
Rising costs
Over the past three years, the cost of running the hospice has risen from £46,000/day to £52,000/day (based on 2022 to 2024 figures). With the number of people needing specialist end-of-life care predicted to rise by 25% by 2048, the hospice is in need of urgent financial support.
Dorothy House has longer-term plans to campaign for change to ensure hospices are able to secure fair, long-term funding solutions. However, there is an immediate critical fundraising shortfall that the recent government announcement of a one-off cash injection has not completely addressed.
Dorothy House Hospice Care continues to support more and more patients through its core services, on the specialist inpatient unit in Winsley and through its community palliative care teams visiting people’s homes.
A patient of Dorothy House Hospice Care, Emma Lynham, said in June 2024, “Everyone dies at some point. But that doesn’t necessarily make it any less scary. It makes me think if this hadn’t been there, how much harder this journey to death would be. I couldn’t have done it. My family couldn’t have done it without Dorothy House.”
Even small donations can make a big difference in ensuring that patients like Emma and her family receive the care they need during the toughest times of their lives.
How you can help
The charity is appealing to anyone who will one day need its services, to:
Donate to its Adversity Appeal which can be found on the website https://www.dorothyhouse.org.uk/support-us/donate/
Support the charity’s upcoming fundraising events https://www.dorothyhouse.org.uk/get-involved/events/
Donate to and visit one of its 27 shops
Write to their local MP to secure a national settlement that meets the increasing demands of an ageing population.
Pictured: Emma Lynham – patient of Dorothy House Hospice Care in June 2024
