Hospice appeal raises almost £270k in three months

A group of nurses and hospice staff in uniform gather around a woman sitting in a hospital bed. The woman has her legs covered by a chequered blanket and is holding sign with a big red heart and the words 'Thank you!' written on the front.Image source, The Myton Hospices
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The Myton Hospices announced an "incredible" £269,943 has been raised by its supporters

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A hospice charity which launched an urgent appeal to raise funds to tackle increased demand said almost £270,000 had been raised in three months.

The Myton Hospices, in Warwickshire, launched a fundraiser in September, amid annual running costs which it described as being "at an all-time high".

The charity said £240,000 could fund the recruitment, training and salary of five registered nurses for a year, to help more people access a hospice bed.

Ruth Freeman, chief executive, thanked supporters who had made a donation and said they had been "absolutely blown away" by the response.

An old photo with a group of nurses around a hospital bed, with someone dressed as a patient in the bed. The nurses hold balloons and a big sign says 'Please Support Myton Hospice'Image source, The Myton Hospices
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The charity had recreated a photo from when the hospice first opened in 1982 as part of the fundraising appeal

Myton, which has three hospices across Coventry, Rugby and Warwick and dozens of shops, said three out of five people on their waiting list for a bed died before they could access one.

Ms Freeman said the money would help to ensure more people could access a hospice bed and the palliative and end of life care they required.

"We strongly believe that every person who needs a hospice bed should have access to one and that no one who is at the end of their life should be on a waiting list," she added.

The charity launched the appeal at Leamington Spa Town Hall on 17 September, where it recreated a photo from 1982 when the hospice first opened.

It said only 20% of its costs were covered by statutory funding and that annual running costs were at an all-time high of £14.3m, meaning it needed to raise £11m every year to continue to provide services free of charge.

The increase in national insurance contributions and the minimum wage announced in the recent budget would also cost an additional £190,000 next year, a hospice spokesperson added.

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