“We’re for the first time faced with having to see people potentially die badly,” an end-of-life care expert warned County Hall last week.
Mountbatten Isle of Wight’s senior consultant in palliative care, Paul Howard, told the adult social care, public health and housing needs committee he was really worried in light of proposed NHS cuts to the hospice service.
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight in June unveiled plans to withdraw £1.4million a year in funding for the hospice – a disinvestment of around 40% by 2026/27.
The integrated care board’s (ICB) update report to the committee said its intention is to ‘retain and enhance’ Mountbatten’s ‘excellent support’ to Islanders but that it recognises the ‘challenging financial position’ the changes will have on the hospice.
Mr Howard said the Island’s mortality rate was 50% higher than the mainland and that Mountbatten was involved with three-quarters of people who die on the Island.
Among factors not taken into account in how the ICB’s decision was reached, he said the hospice was doing a huge amount that was paid for by the NHS. Mountbatten has previously said up to a third of its funding needed to operate comes from the NHS.
At least two-thirds comes from the public, through fundraising, donations, gifts in wills, grants and via charity shops.
Adult social care, public health and housing needs committee members later agreed on a recommendation to support constructive dialogue between the hospice, communities and the ICB. They said this was in the hope that it would lead to timely and stable support for a valued Isle of Wight asset and service.
In addition, the committee said equality of expenditure should be considered to address the inequality of demographics.
James Roach, director of primary care at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said:
“This is clearly a very challenging situation. I’ve met with the hospice and our chief finance officer met with the hospice in June. In that meeting we agreed a series of negotiations and conversations around a range of issues.
“I recognised that perhaps the pace of financial change was too fast…I was able to agree the additional funding to the end of the financial year.
“I think colleagues from the hospice will agree that the dialogue is challenging but it’s constructive – we meet on a fortnightly basis, we meet in-person once a month, we meet via Teams as well.
“We’re in a very challenging landscape financially – as an organisation we’re in recovery support. We recognise that affects all public services.”
The ICB’s update report said:
“We have agreed to provide interim funding to Mountbatten Isle of Wight of £527,000 to enable appropriate transition to the proposed new contract from 1st April, 2026.
“The new contract is based on equity and fairness. We do recognise the impact it has on Mountbatten Isle of Wight due to its current contract and historical strong levels of funding from the NHS.”
Why not sell lottery tickets to support Mountbatten
I would imagine many Islanders would support the
cause.
My husband was diagnosed with advanced cancer after blunder after blunder at St Mary’s and have contributed to the lateness of treatment which he’s now receiving in Southampton.
Unfortunately it’s too late and will be home and referred to the hospice. This news fills me with dread. The institutions that are there to make people suffering like my husband an end of life comfortable are now under fire.
I’m sorry this country is turning more and more into a third world country.
All our contributions to tax and national insurance mean nothing any more .
Let down by arseholes who dictate financial issues whilst people are dying. Karma will come