'Not fair' to subsidise end-of-life care through charity

End-of-life care providers say they will no longer be able to operate effectively after the Department of Health (DoH) ruled out additional funding for their services.

DoH officials said they accepted recommendations from the Stormont Health Committee on palliative care, but added there was not the money to fully implement them.

At present, 30% of hospice services are government funded with the rest coming from fundraising. The report recommends that all hospice care services receive 100% funding.

Hospice Alliance Northern Ireland said it was "extremely disappointed" by the department's stance and said relying on charity "to subsidise core clinical services is neither sustainable nor fair".

The alliance comprises Foyle Hospice, Evora Hospice, Marie Curie NI and the Northern Ireland Hospice.

"It is unacceptable that independent hospices are being overlooked in this way," they said.

"Our skilled and experienced staff deal with the sharp end of specialist palliative care, providing a highly-specialised service to patients with the most complex needs.

"Without appropriate and sustainable funding and integration, patients who require this level of care will have no option but to end up in hospital, which places further pressure on an already overstretched health care system."

The Hospice Alliance said the health committee inquiry was clear that independent hospices were "an essential part of the health and social care system, not an optional add on".

"Accepting the recommendations, without committing the resources needed to implement them represents a missed opportunity to put things right for palliative care patients, their families and carers across Northern Ireland."

The health committee's report into palliative care, published last December, found significant gaps in the provision of services, and "many" examples of patients having to be treated and dying in emergency departments as an out-of-hours service was not available.

The committee has now recommended that legislation should be introduced to ensure the commissioning and funding of palliative care in Northern Ireland.

Other recommendations include that a regional independent palliative care clinical lead be appointed, and palliative services are prioritised.

In a statement, DoH said it valued the key role played by hospices and the need for accessible palliative care.

It said it would work with the sector to take forward the committee's recommendations.

DoH officials told Thursday's health committee meeting that while they wanted to move to "a sustainable funding model for hospices", they needed to do further work on how to arrive at that point.

The DoH said implementing a 100% funding model for hospices would be "challenging" given the current financial constraints on its budget.

DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds said the department's response to the committee's recommendations was "hugely disappointing".

"We've all talked about this funding... you've come back today to say you need to do some more work on it - we are just going round in circles really.

"All of our families will require support at this stage of our lives - in one way or another - and it is extremely disappointing that this is the attitude of the department."

She added: "We would never consider giving birth, and leaving it to be funded by charitable donations, but we seem happy to do that with those who are at the end of their life."

Committee chair Philip McGuigan said the department's response was "concerning", and it was a human right to have end of life care.

"Without urgent investment and a clear strategic plan, patients and families will continue to face unacceptable levels of stress at the most vulnerable time of their lives," said the Sinn Féin MLA.

"The committee encourages the executive to agree a budget, and the health minister and his department must ensure that the resources are put in place to support a palliative care service that is fit for purpose."