Why it matters: The funding will help pay for urgent building repairs, improved patient facilities and rooms, new outdoor spaces, and upgraded IT equipment at two hospices providing vital end-of-life care to patients in Ipswich and across Suffolk.
The details: East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) will receive £237,776, while St Elizabeth Hospice will receive £271,640. The money has been allocated to individual hospices by Hospice UK as part of a £25 million national funding boost for 158 adult and children's hospices across England.
The bigger picture: This latest announcement brings the total funding provided to hospices to £125 million across England over the past two financial years. St Elizabeth Hospice has received around £940,000 in previous funding tranches, while EACH received around £870,000, which was used to upgrade facilities, patient care environments, and essential equipment.
The government has also committed to a multi-year settlement of £80 million across England for children's hospices over three years, which they say will provide long-term certainty to vital services supporting seriously ill children and their families.
What they're saying: Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich, said: "St Elizabeth Hospice and East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) are so important, and they provide such essential care and support to patients, children, and families across Ipswich and Suffolk."
"When I visited St Elizabeth Hospice last year, I saw firsthand the incredible dedication of staff who ensure patients receive compassionate, high-quality care. I have also had the chance to visit EACH and witness the life-changing support they provide for children and young people with life-limiting conditions."
He added: "I am so pleased that our Government has committed another significant amount of funding, building on the near £2 million provided last year. This will help improve facilities, upgrade equipment, and ensure these vital services can continue delivering outstanding care to families in need."
Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said: "I am delighted that this additional cash boost has now been allocated to hospices. I thank Hospice UK for facilitating this so quickly, so hospices can swiftly contract vital work and upgrades – making sure patients are being treated in the best possible environment."
What's next: The government will publish a Palliative and End of Life Care Modern Service Framework later this year, improving access, quality and sustainability across the sector. The framework is being developed in partnership with the sector and will tackle long-standing challenges, including avoidable hospital admissions, regional variation in care, workforce shortages, and gaps in 24/7 palliative care provision.
The bottom line: According to Abbott, the funding represents the largest investment in hospice care in a generation, and will enable St Elizabeth Hospice and EACH to continue delivering high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care to patients and families across Ipswich and Suffolk.
