Hospice appeal so 'no-one has to die alone'

“I hope viewers who see the appeal will find out more about the support which is available to them, for free, here in Peterborough”

A charity said it hoped to raise awareness of its hospice work and the rising cost of delivering its services.

Sue Ryder, which operates the Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough, will feature on a BBC  Lifeline  Appeal this month, where the charity's staff will explain the financial difficulties it has been facing.

Allison Mann, the service director at the Sue Ryder Hospice, hoped people would watch to find out what the charity offers and how to help keep its services running.

“Sue Ryder relies on people running marathons or selling second-hand cardigans in our shops to keep our services open," she said. "This must change so we can ensure no-one is left to grieve or die alone.”

The hospice provides palliative care from diagnosis, offers symptom control during treatment and its staff are at bedsides at the end of people's lives.

The charity also offers free bereavement services and runs weekly in-person drop-in sessions across five sites in Cambridgeshire to support those experiencing grief.

'Rising cost'

Ms Mann said: "Dying and grief are universal experiences, but too many people face them alone.

"Data shows that 50% of all people dying in England receive palliative [care], but estimates suggest up to 90% need this care each year.

“What’s more demand for Sue Ryder’s online bereavement services have never been higher – with a staggering 86% of people who have experienced grief having told us they have felt alone in their grief."

The Lifeline appeal comes at a time when hospice charities have spoken of financial struggles amid the rising cost of delivering services.

About one third of funding needed for hospices such as Thorpe Hall was provided for by the government, said the charity.

“Amazingly, our vital bereavement services, which thousands of people rely on each year, receive no funding at all," Ms Mann added.

The   BBC One appeal will be broadcast on 18 August at 13:50 BST.