The Ilford North MP made the pledge on his fact-finding visit to Romford’s Saint Francis Hospice, which is undergoing a £2 million refurbishment.
He acknowledged that the hospice receives government cash for only 31% of its running costs, while having to depend on donations to maintain its palliative and end-of-life care — but that “more sustainable funding” was needed.
“I know hospices are facing real challenges in costs,” he admitted. “Public funding constitutes a relatively small part of what many people would consider a really essential public service.
“We’re going to try and correct that over time. I am doing everything I can to make sure the Government is paying more of what I would consider to be a fair share of support for hospices.”
Mr Streeting visited the hospice at Havering-atte-Bower to meet its chief executive, project manager and representatives from other east London hospices including St Joseph’s in South Hackney and two children’s hospices, Haven House in Woodford and Richard House in Becton.
He came to see ‘work in progress’ for the renovations at Saint Francis, such as installing hoists, new furnishings, TVs, lighting and solar panels and updating the bathrooms, with a new therapy room also in the plans.
“There are still people coming here for care and it hasn’t felt like a building site,” the health secretary added. “I’m beginning to see the impact of decisions the government has taken — people read headlines about ‘record investment for hospices’ but that’s no substitute for the public’s generosity.”
Hospice chief executive Grazina Berry also hosted a round table meeting with Mr Streeting and the other hospice leaders to discuss the funding challenges they face.
Grazina told the Romford Recorder: “The Secretary of State discussed the major challenges facing hospices. We are committed to continuing the work with him to secure the future of palliative and end-of-life care.”
The £2 million upgrade at Saint Francis is due by March, with the budget including £764,000 from the Government’s £100 million hospices fund. A ‘hospice at home’ service is giving palliative and end of life care while the work gets underway.
