'Families will see improvements': Wolverhampton MP welcomes £648,000 cash boost for hospice
A £648,000 cash boost will make a tangible difference to the lives of hospital patients, an MP has said.
Wolverhampton MP Warinder Juss welcomed news that Compton Care would receive a £647,697 share of a £75 million funding packages for hospices to carry out major upgrades and building works
Mr Juss said families would see further improvements in end-of-life care as the Government released the money to be spent on projects such as separate family rooms, and communal lounges.
More than 170 hospices across England will receive a share of the funding, which Mr Juss described as the largest cash injection ever.
He said it would ensure patients received the highest quality end-of-life care in comfortable, dignified surroundings with upgrades including specially adapted beds, rooms, and technology.
Mr Juss said: "I’m so pleased this government has allocated such important funding to our hospices.
“I visited Compton recently at its site in Compton Road West, meeting with Rachel Overfield, chief executive and walking around their facility.
"I was glad to hear, and see, that they provide such invaluable support in our community for people with life-limiting conditions and their loved ones and this government funding will make such a real difference.”
Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock said: “Hospices play a vital role in our society by providing invaluable care and support when people need it most. At this most difficult time, people deserve to receive the best care in the best possible environment with dignity. I have seen first-hand how our funding is already making a real difference to improving facilities for patients and families. This additional funding will deliver further upgrades, relieving pressure on day-to-day spending.”
Mr Kinnock said end-of-life care was crucial to the Government's 10-year health plan, and marked a fundamental shift of moving more care out of hospital and into the community.
"We will continue to support hospices so they can deliver their vital work," he added.
The new cash injection is for the present financial year, and will be distributed by Hospice UK.
Hospices that have been allocated a pot of funding will be able to proceed with upgrades, invoicing Hospice UK once the work was complete.
