I met with Jeremy Lune, CEO of Prospect House, to talk about their future and any bumps in the road they are facing.
Hospices are a vital part of our health infrastructure. Not just for the incredible work they do, but also for helping the NHS to save money. However, as things stand, they may have to consider reducing their work, or at the very worst, shutting altogether. They currently have a sizeable deficit, and having asked for funding 7 weeks ago, are yet to hear any good news from the Government. This is a serious issue, made worse by the increase in National Insurance contributions the Government has forced upon them.
On one hand, this has been an amazing year for voluntary donations - they have managed to raise £179,000 - a huge thanks to all those who helped. However, they will now see their National Insurance contributions rise by over £170,000, wiping out the hard work and future plans this money was based on.
The work Prospect House do is inspiring, and if you are able, please do support them. I will continue to push Government to do more for hospices in general - they are an important part of our health network.
