Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, has called for the NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) to increase its funding to the county’s hospices after figures revealed its contributions to some local providers were below the national average.
Integrated care boards are a statutory NHS body responsible for meeting the health needs of a population. ICBs – rather than the UK Government or NHS England – are responsible for determining the level of funding for palliative and end-of-life care in their area.
Simon Jupp MP has written to Dr Sarah Wollaston, Chair of NHS Devon ICB, with a call to increase funding as soon as possible.
Hospiscare – an independent local charity supporting 2,500 people each year – is funded for 18% of their costs from the county’s ICB compared to a national average of 32% from ICBs in England.
Without an uplift in financial support, Hospiscare could see some of their end-of-life care services put at risk by April 2024.
These services, including inpatient beds and specialist community nursing, are essential in providing patients and their families with expert care need whilst reducing further demand on the local NHS system.
In his letter sent on 24th November 2023, Simon Jupp MP also called for NHS Devon ICB to extend its funding offer to Sidmouth Hospice at Home.
The local Sidmouth charity provides an extensive service to local patients and has helped speed up patient discharge from local hospitals, despite receiving no funding from NHS Devon ICB at all.
Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, said; “Local hospice care providers like Sidmouth Hospice at Home and Hospiscare provide incredible support and comfort to so many in East Devon. I firmly believe fairer funding would help their amazing teams continue to provide compassionate quality care whilst preventing hospital admission and extra demand on the NHS system. I first raised this matter last year and I really hope Devon NHS finally listens to our county’s fantastic hospice care providers and gives them the funding they need – and deserve – to continue supporting Devon’s patients and their families.”