Latest news with #HouseHospiceCare
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
PM says he 'recognises pressure' as hospice faces £400k NI bill
The prime minister has said he "recognises pressure" on hospices as one facility in Wiltshire revealed it must find an extra £400,000 to cover its National Insurance (NI) contributions. From April, employers will have to pay NI at 15% on salaries above £5,000, instead of 13.8% on salaries above £9,100 House Hospice Care looks after people across Somerset and Wiltshire at the end of their lives. It says it will need to scale back its work if the government does not provide more Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the government has invested £100m into hospices and £26m more into those which care for children and young people. This funding was announced in December and is intended for spending on infrastructure. Speaking at prime minister's questions earlier, Frome and East Somerset MP Anna Sabine asked Sir Keir to meet with representatives from the agreed to arrange a meeting between her and Wes Streeting, the health and social care Sabine told MPs about the struggles Dorothy House, which has its main base in Winsley, near Bradford-on-Avon, is costs £19m a year to run the hospice, with 80% of its money coming from fundraising. Its financial director Tony De Jaeger told the BBC: "Hospices throughout the UK are facing financial crisis with the cost of living increases and then most recently the announcement of the National Insurance increase for employers which is going to hit Dorothy House to the tune of £400,000."He said the hospice is now facing "very difficult decisions" about how to prioritise "desperately needed" hospice is turning 50 next year and is facing a financial De Jaeger warned without more support, the quality and quantity of care will be impacted. "Hospices play a really valuable role in provision of care which the NHS is not able to do as much of as it would like. "Sustainable funding would provide people with the dignity and quality of care they deserve," Mr De Jaeger added.
BBC News
08-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Charity walk for Dorothy House hospice to encourage men to discuss grief
Hundreds of men from Somerset and Wiltshire are being encouraged to share their experiences of grief and bereavement on an eight-mile (12km) charity House Hospice Care is hosting its annual 'Men's Walk to Support' to raise funds to help the charity continue to provide free end-of-life walk on 8 March will take participants from the charity's hospice in Winsley, Wiltshire, to Bath Pavillion in Varley, community and events fundraiser, said the walk can be really "powerful" for men who have experienced bereavement. The charity provides free palliative end-of-life care to more than 550,000 people in Bath and North East Somerset, and parts of Somerset and walk and talk event, which has been running for the past 10 years, allows men to share their lived experiences of grief and bereavement."We've had men come to the hospice since the death of a loved one, to take part in the men's walk, and that can be really powerful for them," said Mr Varley."We know that creating those spaces is really important, particularly for men who don't want to come to our traditional counselling sessions." Last year's event saw a record-breaking 550 men take part, raising £105,000 for the hospice. The charity hopes to surpass that this year as its annual costs are expected to hit £19m in the next financial year."We know that family members of people who are experiencing end-of-life care can have a really tough time and that's why we look after the patients," said Mr Varley."But we're also there to support the families. And we know that a lot of our patients prefer to die at home, and in that comfortable setting."The funds raised from the walk will contribute towards funding community care, their inpatient unit and providing counselling sessions.
