Heart of Kent Hospice, Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent, ellenor, Demelza Hospice Care for Children and Hospice in the Weald among recipients of additional government funding

Five Kent hospices are among those to receive funding as part of a multi-million-pound government package.

Palliative care services — Heart of Kent Hospice, Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent, ellenor, Demelza Hospice Care for Children and Hospice in the Weald — have been awarded a combined £678,149 from an extra £25 million government capital funding package, announced last month by the Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock.

The funding forms part of a wider £4,982,126 allocation shared between 30 hospices across the South East.

Mr Kinnock said: “I am delighted that this additional cash boost of £4.9m has now been allocated to hospices across the South East.

The funding is intended to help pay for urgent building repairs, improved patient rooms, new outdoor spaces and upgraded IT and clinical equipment, with hospices able to spend the money before the end of the 2025/26 financial year.

Ann-Marie Kelly, chief executive of Heart of Kent Hospice, said: “We are genuinely grateful for the capital funding provided by government, and for the immediate difference it will make for our patients and clinical teams.

“This investment will allow us to refurbish vital clinical spaces, improve patient comfort through upgrades such as air-conditioning in patient rooms making the environment more comfortable, and investment in new equipment to support symptom control and timely discharge.

“These are important improvements and we welcome them.

“However, for Heart of Kent Hospice and for hospices across the country, the fundamental challenge remains sustainable funding for the services we provide every day.

“Last year we supported more than 1,153 people right across our community, in their own homes and care homes, helping them to stay in their preferred place of care for as long as possible.

“The reality is that we continue to rely heavily on charitable income to fund the doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals who deliver this care.

“Our hospice is run on kindness, from our colleagues and volunteers to our supporters and donors, and we need that support more than ever.

“With rising demand, escalating clinical and workforce costs, and growing complexity of need, statutory funding still falls significantly short of the true cost of hospice care.”

The government said the latest allocation brings total capital investment in hospices across England to £125 million over the past two financial years.

Ministers have also confirmed that a new palliative and end-of-life care modern service framework will be published later this year.