Hospice services struggling without charity money

A hospice that supports more than 4,000 patients a year in south-east London has appealed for financial help to keep its services running.

St Christopher's Hospice, which has sites in Sydenham and Orpington, offers free end-of-life care, but only a third of its funding comes from government. The rest comes from charitable donations.

Hospice UK, a body campaigning on behalf of hospices, said people would be shocked at how reliant hospices are on charity fundraising and called on the government to reform funding in the long term.

In December, the Department of Health and Social Care announced a £100m funding boost for hospices.

Julie Penfold, 58, was a patient at St Christopher's last year and died in October from pancreatic cancer.

Her last days were spent at the in-patient unit in Sydenham, surrounded by her family.

Ms Penfold's husband, John Whincop, said the care "was amazing, we didn't have to ask for anything, they knew what we needed and what we wanted.

"It was like this care was round us and we didn't have to think."

Their daughter Ellie said the hospice staff helped her mum "feel so at peace".

Director of Income Generation, Tom Abbott, said: "We are currently fortunate that, thanks to the support of our community, we are in good financial position and can continue to provide care and support, however we believe hospice funding needs reform nationally.

"We rely so heavily on the community leaving us gifts in wills or perhaps using our charity shops."

Volunteers are being sought to take part in a fundraiser with a target of £200,000 by cycling from Crystal Palace to the Palace of Versailles in France.

The Department of Health and Social Care said ministers "continue to work to make the sector sustainable in the long term".

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