Hospice warns of rising demand as COVID backlog continues
Dorothy House says late diagnoses and funding pressures are creating a “perfect storm”
A hospice in Somerset is warning that demand for end-of-life care is increasing sharply, with the effects of the COVID pandemic still being felt.
Dorothy House Hospice Care, which serves Mendip, Bath and North East Somerset, and parts of Wiltshire, says more patients are reaching them later in their illness due to delays in diagnosis.
James Byron, Director of Marketing at Dorothy House, said the charity is seeing a clear shift in the needs of the people it supports.
“People are living longer with more complex conditions, but post-pandemic we’re seeing cancers and other illnesses picked up later, meaning patients need hospice care sooner. There just isn’t enough provision to meet that need.”
The hospice expects to support more than 4,000 people this year, with around 90 per cent of care delivered in people’s homes through community teams. Its inpatient unit, which has just 10 beds, frequently operates with a waiting list.
Byron explained that the backlog in NHS treatment continues to play a role:
“With long waiting lists, sometimes things get missed. Dentists, for example, are often the first to spot mouth cancers, but when appointments aren’t available, those conditions may not be picked up until they’re very advanced.”
Hospices also face ongoing financial strain. According to Byron, government funding typically covers only a fifth of running costs, leaving charities dependent on donations and local fundraising to make up the gap.
“For every pound we receive from the government, we need to raise another four,” he said. “Despite hospice care being critical to communities, the resources available don’t meet the full level of need.”
Alongside financial pressures, the sector is also contending with wider social changes. Byron said more people are now willing to talk about death and dying, but it remains a taboo subject for many families. The ongoing debate in Parliament about assisted dying has also brought end-of-life care further into public discussion.
This week’s national Hospice Week is highlighting the challenges charities face in meeting demand. For Dorothy House and others, the message is clear: the legacy of COVID, an ageing population, and funding shortfalls are combining to create a “perfect storm” for end-of-life care.
The Department of Health and Social Care said it recognises the vital role hospices play and pointed to its 10-year Health Plan, which aims to make palliative and end-of-life care more sustainable as more services move into communities. It said the government is investing £100 million to improve hospice facilities – the largest such programme in a generation – alongside £26 million of NHS funding specifically for children and young people’s hospices.