Hospice boss warns of funding challenges

Trevor Johnson, chief executive of Acorns, said the situation was unsustainable

A West Midlands hospice boss has warned it faces a "huge challenge" under the current funding model.

Acorns Children's Hospice, which is based in Birmingham, told the BBC the situation was not sustainable despite demand for its services growing.

It came after Hospice UK said there was a £77m funding deficit at centres across the UK.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said ministers had made more than £350m available to hospices since 2020.

Trevor Johnson, chief executive of Acorns, said the charity provided care to hundreds of children across the region every year.

But he explained the hospice was unable to pass rising costs on to consumers, instead having to depend on fundraising activities and profits from charity shops.

"Help can’t wait for the families who desperately need Acorns but limited funding and rising costs present a huge challenge to our ability to continue to be there," Mr Johnson said.

“Hospices like Acorns are essential, but the situation for us is not sustainable."

Acorns in Walsall provides care for hundreds of children each year

Hospice UK said Mary Stephens Hospice in Stourbridge and Birmingham Hospice had also supported its campaign.

Ministers had been due to debate a motion on hospice funding in the House of Commons on Monday but this was postponed.

Hospice UK fears a £77m funding gap in the sector

"We’re waiting to hear when the debate will be rescheduled, it’s vital that this important topic if given the time it deserves," Hospice UK said.

A DHSC spokesperson said that as well as the £350m funding, the government had also provided £60m in additional funding.

Some of this was to deliver one-off payments to more than 27,000 eligible staff employed by non-NHS organisations.