Rachel Reeves Announces Autumn 2025 Budget
Steve Smith, Chief Executive of St Christopher’s, the home of the modern hospice movement, says:
“We’re calling on the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to address the hospice funding crisis in her budget today to help stop the tide of cuts urgently so that people get the care they deserve at the end of life.
“We’ve heard this week the government promise that hospices are absolutely integral in the delivery of their NHS ten -year plan and that they will end the postcode lottery of palliative and end of life care.
“But these plans do not address the urgent state of funding, with nearly two -thirds of hospices reporting a funding deficit.
“At St Christopher’s, just 34% of our funding comes from the NHS, with the rest generated through public fundraising. Although we’re fortunate to have maintained our services despite this funding crisis, far too many of our fellow hospices are struggling a nd have had to cut services, take beds out of use and let high -quality, dedicated staff go.
“Rachel Reeves needs to back the hospice movement today, starting with some short -term funding to protect those people at the end of life and their families and loved ones.”
Seven years ago, Constance Bartholomew was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) a rare neurological condition that can cause problems with balance, movement, vision, speech and swallowing. She was referred to St Christopher’s where she was s upported by a number of teams and services before she died in February 2025 aged 71.
Husband Dennis, 69, says: “St Christopher’s were such a support to Constance, our children and I. I don’t think once the discussion was focused on just delivering end of life care, but the guiding philosophy about what we can achieve still. The care was co mpassionate and expert and those specialist services should be fully -funded. We received regular phone calls and visits as well as rehab appointments and other therapies. We knew that whenever we needed something, we could contact the hospice team. It doesn’t seem right that hospices have to rely so heavily on donations to deliver first class end of life care.
You may also be interested in
From Conversation to Connection: How St Christopher’s Is Listening to South East London’s Communities
Partnering with groups like the Pineapple Club, the hospice’s Community Action team is opening up honest conversations about culture, spirituality, and end-of-life care
“I was treated with the same care and compassion as a patient.”
"As always, they bent over backwards to make our wish a reality."
