logo
Wolverhampton: 'Funding reforms for hospices are urgently needed'

Wolverhampton: 'Funding reforms for hospices are urgently needed'

BBC News6 days ago
Bosses at a hospice say changes to hospice funding are still "urgently needed" despite being one of 18 charities in the West Midlands to receive a government grant to help upgrade facilities.Compton Care in Wolverhampton received £647,697, which must be used for capital projects under the criteria attached to the cash boost.This would support improvements to facilities, grounds and digital infrastructure, according to the hospice's leaders.However, the funding cannot be used to directly deliver clinical services, they said, and as a result would not address current financial challenges facing the hospice sector.
"Sustainable and fair funding reforms remain urgently needed," a spokesperson for Compton Care said.The government announced this week it was providing £75m to be shared between about 170 hospices across England, which followed a £25m funding announcement in February."Hospices play a vital role in our society by providing invaluable care and support when people need it most," said minister for care Stephen Kinnock.
'Immense pressure'
"I have seen firsthand how our funding is already making a real difference in improving facilities for patients and families."This additional funding will deliver further upgrades, relieving pressure on day-to-day spending."The announcement of capital funding for hospices was "welcome recognition" from the government of the "immense pressure" facing hospices and their urgent need for more financial support, according to Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, a national body representing hospices."While this one-off investment has been very welcome, it's critical that we continue to work with government to secure long-term reform to ensure hospice care is there for everyone who needs it, whoever and wherever they are," he said.
Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Andrew Flintoff hails NHS staff who cared for him after car crash
Andrew Flintoff hails NHS staff who cared for him after car crash

BreakingNews.ie

time22 minutes ago

  • BreakingNews.ie

Andrew Flintoff hails NHS staff who cared for him after car crash

Andrew Flintoff has praised the 'love and compassion' of NHS staff who cared for him after his car crash at a Top Gear test track. The former international cricketer and current England Lions and Northern Superchargers Men's coach visited hospital workers who looked after him in the aftermath of the accident, which he described as 'the lowest I've ever been'. Advertisement In December 2022, Flintoff sustained severe injuries while filming at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey for an episode of BBC show Top Gear. His surgeon described Flintoff's case as one of the most complex he has ever seen. Flintoff was airlifted to St George's Hospital in Tooting – a major trauma centre. 'I just want to say a massive thank you to all the staff at St George's,' Flintoff said. Advertisement 'I came here probably the lowest I've ever been, in need of help and the expertise, the love, the compassion they showed me was incredible. 'I'll be eternally grateful – absolute superheroes.' Andrew Flintoff visited surgeon Jahrad Haq (St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust/PA) Recalling the incident, consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon Jahrad Haq, said: 'I was on call that day and received a phone call from the emergency department consultant. 'A lot of injuries are managed at a more junior level before escalating, so I knew this one was serious. Advertisement 'Of all the trauma cases I've seen in over 20 years, this was among the most complex.' Shamim Umarji, consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, said: 'It's very rewarding when patients come back and you get to see them not just as patients, but as people. It's a real privilege. 'When you see their recovery, you remember how important our job is. 'It was wonderful to see Freddie again and his visit gave staff a real boost. He spent a lot of time chatting to everyone and it meant a lot.' Advertisement Andrew Flintoff with Linda Holden, lead dental nurse (left) and Sonia Steer, principal orthodontic nurse (right) at St George's (St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust/PA) Kate Slemeck, managing director for St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'I'm incredibly proud of the care we provide at St George's. 'It's always heart-warming to hear from patients about the expert care, compassion and kindness they've received from our clinical and support teams, and this shows the lasting impact they have on people, long after they've left hospital.' During a documentary about the accident, Flintoff described how he used the split-second decision-making from his cricketing days to try to reduce the impact of the crash. He said he was 'pulled face-down on the runway' for about 50 metres under the car. Advertisement The former England star said he thought he had died in the accident. For months after the crash Flintoff disappeared from public view and would leave his house only for medical appointments His recovery has been documented in a documentary, Flintoff, streamed on Disney+.

Andrew Flintoff hails NHS staff who cared for him after car crash
Andrew Flintoff hails NHS staff who cared for him after car crash

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

Andrew Flintoff hails NHS staff who cared for him after car crash

Andrew Flintoff has praised the 'love and compassion' of NHS staff who cared for him after his car crash at a Top Gear test track. The former international cricketer and current England Lions and Northern Superchargers Men's coach visited hospital workers who looked after him in the aftermath of the accident, which he described as 'the lowest I've ever been'. In December 2022, Flintoff sustained severe injuries while filming at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey for an episode of BBC show Top Gear. His surgeon described Flintoff's case as one of the most complex he has ever seen. Flintoff was airlifted to St George's Hospital in Tooting – a major trauma centre. 'I just want to say a massive thank you to all the staff at St George's,' Flintoff said. 'I came here probably the lowest I've ever been, in need of help and the expertise, the love, the compassion they showed me was incredible. 'I'll be eternally grateful – absolute superheroes.' Recalling the incident, consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon Jahrad Haq, said: 'I was on call that day and received a phone call from the emergency department consultant. 'A lot of injuries are managed at a more junior level before escalating, so I knew this one was serious. 'Of all the trauma cases I've seen in over 20 years, this was among the most complex.' Shamim Umarji, consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, said: 'It's very rewarding when patients come back and you get to see them not just as patients, but as people. It's a real privilege. 'When you see their recovery, you remember how important our job is. 'It was wonderful to see Freddie again and his visit gave staff a real boost. He spent a lot of time chatting to everyone and it meant a lot.' Kate Slemeck, managing director for St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'I'm incredibly proud of the care we provide at St George's. 'It's always heart-warming to hear from patients about the expert care, compassion and kindness they've received from our clinical and support teams, and this shows the lasting impact they have on people, long after they've left hospital.' During a documentary about the accident, Flintoff described how he used the split-second decision-making from his cricketing days to try to reduce the impact of the crash. He said he was 'pulled face-down on the runway' for about 50 metres under the car. The former England star said he thought he had died in the accident. For months after the crash Flintoff disappeared from public view and would leave his house only for medical appointments His recovery has been documented in a documentary, Flintoff, streamed on Disney+.

Andrew Flintoff praises ‘superhero' NHS staff who cared for him after serious Top Gear crash
Andrew Flintoff praises ‘superhero' NHS staff who cared for him after serious Top Gear crash

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

Andrew Flintoff praises ‘superhero' NHS staff who cared for him after serious Top Gear crash

Andrew Flintoff has expressed profound gratitude for the "love and compassion" shown by NHS staff who provided care following his severe car crash on the Top Gear test track. The incident, which occurred in December 2022 at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, left the former international cricketer with severe injuries, an experience he described as "the lowest I've ever been". Airlifted to St George's Hospital in Tooting, a major trauma centre, Flintoff's case was deemed "one of the most complex" his surgeon had ever encountered. Now coaching the England Lions and Northern Superchargers Men's teams, Flintoff recently visited the hospital workers who looked after him, reiterating his appreciation for their care. 'I just want to say a massive thank you to all the staff at St George's,' the former England Cricket international said. 'I came here probably the lowest I've ever been, in need of help and the expertise, the love, the compassion they showed me was incredible. 'I'll be eternally grateful – absolute superheroes.' Recalling the incident, consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon Jahrad Haq, said: 'I was on call that day and received a phone call from the emergency department consultant. 'A lot of injuries are managed at a more junior level before escalating, so I knew this one was serious. 'Of all the trauma cases I've seen in over 20 years, this was among the most complex.' Shamim Umarji, consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, said: 'It's very rewarding when patients come back and you get to see them not just as patients, but as people. It's a real privilege. 'When you see their recovery, you remember how important our job is. 'It was wonderful to see Freddie again and his visit gave staff a real boost. He spent a lot of time chatting to everyone and it meant a lot.' Kate Slemeck, managing director for St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'I'm incredibly proud of the care we provide at St George's. 'It's always heart-warming to hear from patients about the expert care, compassion and kindness they've received from our clinical and support teams, and this shows the lasting impact they have on people, long after they've left hospital.' During a documentary about the accident, Flintoff described how he used the split-second decision-making from his cricketing days to try to reduce the impact of the crash. He said he was 'pulled face-down on the runway' for about 50 metres under the car. The former England star said he thought he had died in the accident. For months after the crash Flintoff disappeared from public view and would leave his house only for medical appointments His recovery has been documented in a documentary, Flintoff, streamed on Disney+.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store