Hospice charities and organisations have welcomed the announcement this week that their struggling sector will be handed £126m in funding from the government.

The funding award includes £100m for adult and children’s hospices to improve facilities for patients and visitors, refurbish buildings and overhaul outdated IT systems.

It also includes £26m for children’s hospices for 2025/26 through what had been known until recently as the Children’s Hospice Grant.

The funding announcement comes amid concerns from hospice charities about their finances.

A survey of almost 100 hospices by umbrella body Hospice UK earlier this year found that one in five hospice charities had made cuts to services over the last year or are planning to do so.

Hospice UK chief executive Toby Porter said this week’s funding announcement “will be hugely welcomed by hospices, and those who rely on their services”.

“This funding will allow hospices to continue to reach hundreds of thousands of people every year with high-quality, compassionate care.

“We look forward to working with the government to make sure everyone approaching the end of life gets the care and support they need, when and where they need it.”

Another to welcome the funding announcement is Haven House children’s hospice chief executive Ralph Coulbeck.

“It will be a relief to everybody in the children’s hospice sector to hear that the Children’s Hospice Grant is being maintained next year; this will help to support the vital care we provide to seriously ill children and families.

“It is also very positive to hear about the government’s plans to invest significantly in the wider hospice sector; we hope that there will be as much flexibility as possible to determine locally how this new money is spent.”

The funding award will also be used to improve overnight facilities for families, improve garden and outdoor spaces and provide more community outreach services for families.

“Hospices provide the care and support for patients and families at the most difficult time so it is only right they are given the financial support to provide these services,” said health and social care secretary Wes Streeting.

“This package will ensure they will be able to continue to deliver the compassionate care everyone deserves as they come to the end of their life in the best possible environment.”

In England there are around 170 hospices for adults, and 40 for children and young people in England.

Earlier this month MPs and charities had called on the government to use millions of pounds of financial fines levied on firms to support the hospice sector.

---