What do you mean by core services?

We always aim to make our services as efficient as possible and our core priority is delivering services which are safe, and meet regulatory and commissioned requirements. We are committed to a holistic, personalised approach so cannot stress enough how much we value the care all of our varied teams offer. We are having 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. 

What has caused the current financial issues?

Rising costs, a national insurance hike and stagnant government funding which only covers 20% of our total costs are putting huge pressure on our financial sustainability. Over the past three years, the cost of running the Hospice has risen from £46,000 a day to £52,000 a day. The scale of the problem is national – 300 hospice beds are currently closed across the UK due to funding issues. There is also a huge regional disparity – we currently get 20% of our funding from the NHS, whereas the average in the South West is 24% and in London it is 47%.

How serious is your overall funding deficit?

We already had a planned budget deficit at the start of this year, which rising costs, a national insurance hike and stagnant government funding which only covers 20% of our total costs have added to. We are now also behind on income from our shops and fundraising efforts. The recent government announcement of a short-term cash injection over the next two years will not completely address these issues.

How much government funding do you get?

We currently receive 20% of our overall funding from the government, so for every £1 we receive we need to raise another £4. There is a huge amount of regional disparity across the UK – the average in the South West is 24%, but in London it is 47%. The recent government announcement of a short-term cash injection has not addressed these issues.

How do I make a donation?

Donate online: You can make a one-off payment or regular donation by clicking the ‘donate’ button on the top right hand corner of our website which you’ll find when clicking on any page.

By phone: Call the fundraising department on 01225 721480 and a member of the team will take your donation over the phone.

By cheque: Please make the cheque out to ‘Dorothy House Hospice Care’ and include details of the reason for your donation.  Then post to: Fundraising Department, Dorothy House, Winsley, Bradford on Avon, BA15 2LE.

By BACS: Account Number: 73821358, Sort Code: 40-14-13, Account Name: Dorothy House, Bank: HSBC Bank plc, Branch: Bristol Cabot Circus. If you choose this option, please call the fundraising department on 01225 721480 or email supportercareteam@dorothyhouse-hospice.org.uk to share details of your donation.

What is the long-term funding solution?

Our care will always be a gift from our community to our community, but demand and costs are rising much higher than NHS or government funding for our work. We need a new funding settlement that removes regional inequalities in funding and ensures everyone has the care and support they need at the end of their lives.

We are actively negotiating with our commissioners to try to agree a new, fairer funding settlement. We are also lobbying MPs alongside our colleagues at Hospice UK to ensure hospice funding is at the top of the government agenda. We know that there is huge regional inequality, with hospices in the South West receiving half of the NHS funding of London, and this needs addressing alongside the stagnant funding models currently causing such financial issues for hospices up and down the country. While the recent announcement of a cash injection for hospices is good news for the sector, it will not completely address these issues.

Are you caring for everyone who needs you now?

We are only caring for around half of the people in our community estimated as having an end of life care need. We are committed to ensuring that everyone in our community has access to the personalised support they need, however are currently having to make difficult decisions about who can receive our care.

I’m currently being cared for by Dorothy House – is this going to affect my care?

We are acting now to protect our core, specialist services and ensure those facing death in our community continue to have the support of the only local adult hospice. We are having to make some difficult decisions about how our services can deliver the most impact, and will continue to engage our patients, families and broader community as these plans progress.

Will the Assisted Dying Bill change things for Dorothy House?

We remain neutral, campaigning neither for or against the bill and are committed to choice at the end of life.  For that to be a genuine choice we need everyone to be confident they, and their families, will be able to access the care and support they need at the end of their lives, regardless of whether the law changes.