Hospices Warn of Operational Challenges Without Additional Funding
Providers of end-of-life care have expressed concerns that they will be unable to continue operating effectively following the Department of Health's (DoH) decision to reject further funding for their services.
Officials from the DoH acknowledged the recommendations made by the Stormont Health Committee concerning palliative care but stated that financial constraints prevent full implementation.
Currently, government funding accounts for 30% of hospice services, with the remaining 70% reliant on fundraising efforts. The committee's report advocates for full government funding, recommending that all hospice care services receive 100% funding.
Hospice Alliance Northern Ireland, which includes Foyle Hospice, Evora Hospice, Marie Curie NI, and the Northern Ireland Hospice, expressed strong disappointment at the department's position. The alliance emphasized that depending on charity to support essential clinical services is unsustainable and unjust.
"It is unacceptable that independent hospices are being overlooked in this way," the alliance stated.
"Our skilled and experienced staff deal with the sharp end of specialist palliative care, providing a highly-specialised service to patients with the most complex needs.
Without appropriate and sustainable funding and integration, patients who require this level of care will have no option but to end up in hospital, which places further pressure on an already overstretched health care system."
"The (health committee) inquiry was clear that independent hospices are an essential part of the health and social care system, not an optional add on.
Accepting the recommendations, without committing the resources needed to implement them represents a missed opportunity to put things right for palliative care patients, their families and carers across Northern Ireland," said the Hospice Alliance.
Health Committee Report Highlights Service Gaps
The health committee's report on palliative care, published in December, identified significant deficiencies in service provision. It noted numerous instances where patients were treated and died in emergency departments due to the unavailability of out-of-hours services.
The committee recommended the introduction of legislation to ensure commissioning and funding of palliative care across Northern Ireland.
Additional recommendations include appointing a regional independent palliative care clinical lead and prioritizing palliative services.
Department of Health Responds to Funding Concerns
During a health committee meeting on Thursday, DoH officials expressed a desire to transition to a sustainable funding model for hospices but indicated that further work is necessary to determine how to achieve this.
The department acknowledged that implementing a 100% funding model would be challenging given current budgetary limitations.
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds criticized the department's response as "hugely disappointing."
She remarked,
"We've all talked about this funding... you've come back today to say you need to do some more work on it - we are just going round in circles really.
All of our families will require support at this stage of our lives - in one way or another - and it is extremely disappointing that this is the attitude of the department."
She added: "We would never consider giving birth, and leaving it to be funded by charitable donations, but we seem happy to do that with those who are at the end of their life."
Committee chair Philip McGuigan described the department's response as "concerning," emphasizing that end-of-life care is a human right.
"Without urgent investment and a clear strategic plan, patients and families will continue to face unacceptable levels of stress at the most vulnerable time of their lives," said the Sinn Féin MLA.
"The committee encourages the executive to agree a budget, and the health minister and his department must ensure that the resources are put in place to support a palliative care service that is fit for purpose."
