MP fears for hospice's future over funding gap

Redundancies at Birmingham Hospice could lead to people dying without the dignity or support they deserve. an MP said.

Paulette Hamilton, MP for Birmingham Erdington, has written to NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) chief executive David Melbourne about the matter.

She had been told that the hospice had placed 150 staff on redundancy notice, she said, and added that the lack of funding meant it could be reduced to just eight inpatient beds.

NHS Birmingham and Solihull said it was working with the hospice, adding that funding had grown by over £500,000 since 2022.

The Labour MP added she was concerned at the potential loss of highly experienced staff – including specialist doctors, nurses and therapists.

“I would therefore like to understand how the ICB are planning to support the John Taylor Hospice, and what financial assistance is being put in place to ensure that patients continue to be supported with dignity and care,” she said in her letter.

John Taylor and St Mary's Hospices merged operations in 2021, and took on the Birmingham Hospice name last year.

It was revealed last month that rising costs have contributed to an estimated £2.4m budget shortfall at the organisation.

Bosses said they were being forced to cut the equivalent of 45 full-time posts - about 14% of their overall workforce.

Funding shortfall

Simon Fuller, CEO of Birmingham Hospice, warned the cuts would affect patients, staff and the wider care system.

The Birmingham Hospice has been operating 24 inpatient beds - 12 in Erdington and 12 in Selly Park.

Bed numbers will now be reduced to 16 in total, with eight at each hospice site.

Hospice bosses said in June that they had called for talks with NHS commissioners to negotiate additional funding, but the Integrated Care Board (ICB) also had a funding shortfall and needed to make savings.

A spokesperson for NHS Birmingham and Solihull said it recognised and valued the services the hospice offered to patients.

They added: "End of life care is critical both in terms of enabling patients to die in a place of their choosing and ensuring that there is capacity in our hospitals."

Funding for the hospice has grown by £508,000, equivalent to a 5.9% increase, since the ICB was formed in July 2022 and an additional £858,000 was made available to "maintain capacity and support sustainability", the spokesperson said.

“As a valued part of the Birmingham and Solihull integrated care system, we are already working with Birmingham Hospice to establish what more can be done and to support the future development of their services alongside system partners," they added.