Mountbatten has been awarded an additional £369,911 in Government capital grant funding, bringing the total awarded to the Mountbatten Group to more than £1.36million for 2025/26.
The money comes as part of Phase 2 of the Department of Health and Social Care’s Capital Grant scheme and will be shared between Mountbatten Isle of Wight and Mountbatten Hampshire.
According to Becky McGregor, Chief Executive of the Mountbatten Group, the funds will be used to complete essential refurbishment projects and to purchase vital equipment for both hospices. These upgrades form part of an ongoing programme of improvement works aimed at enhancing the care environment for patients and their families.
However, it has been stressed that this grant funding is strictly for capital projects and cannot be used to pay for staffing or the delivery of care.
Becky McGregor, CEO, has said:
“The Mountbatten Group of hospices, incorporating Mountbatten Isle of Wight and Mountbatten Hampshire, is delighted to have been awarded an additional £369,911 through the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Phase 2 Capital Grant, bringing its total allocation to £1,365,778 in 2025/26.
“Shared between Mountbatten’s two hospices, which serve Southampton, large parts of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, this vital cash injection will allow us to complete the essential refurbishment of areas used by the people we care for and their families. This is part of an ongoing and planned programme of improvement work. We will also use the money to buy vital equipment.
“It is important to note this money can only be spent on capital projects.
Article continues below this advertisement “It cannot be used to pay for our expert clinical teams or to support the 24/7 care they give to the growing number of people dealing with death, dying and bereavement.
“Across Mountbatten Hampshire and Mountbatten Isle of Wight, our teams care for around 4,500 people in any one day, and demand for our services and expertise has continued to grow by over 70% in the last three years.
“While we are incredibly grateful for this capital grant, The Mountbatten Group still faces significant challenges when it comes to covering day-to-day running costs.
“What hospices like ours need is consistent and predictable NHS funding, to allow us to budget sustainably for the future and to help us ensure our compassionate staff and trained volunteers can continue to be there for all those who need us.
“This must complement the generous financial support we get from our communities, which currently accounts for income in the region of two thirds of our running costs, through gifts in Wills, fundraising and events, grants and donations, and the spend through our network of charity shops.”
The Mountbatten Group says demand for its services has risen sharply in recent years, with more than 4,500 people currently receiving support on any given day.
Despite this week’s welcome announcement, the hospice says its greatest challenge remains the sustainability of everyday care delivery – which relies heavily on community donations, charity shops, and local fundraising.
