Sheffield St Luke’s Hospice budgets ‘routinely’ for annual shortfall

A South Yorkshire hospice, which provides end-of-life care, said it “routinely” budgets for annual shortfalls.

St Luke’s Hospice in Sheffield said it expected demand for its services to continue to increase due to an aging population.

In a quality report to Sheffield City Council’s health control sub-committee, the charity said this would put sustained pressure on resources.

The Department of Health and Social Care previously told the BBC it had made more than £350 million available for hospices from 2020.

St Luke’s Hospice provides palliative and end-of-life care, both in hospice and in the community, and supports bereaved families.

The charity said it will continue to expand its services despite financial challenges and hopes to increase its reach into disadvantaged communities.

NHS funding makes up 26% of the £12m annual budget for the hospice, which is based in Little Common Lane, Whirlow.

Peter Hartland, chief executive of the charity, said in the report: “There has been significant national discussion about hospice funding, including a debate in the Commons, but there is no sign of a positive outcome and many hospices now see a real threat and supported by funding. to their continued operation.

“The result is that St Luke’s, like many other hospices, now routinely budgets for annual deficits.”

Despite the financial challenges, St Luke’s said priorities over the next year included implementing a new patient safety system used by the NHS.

The report, which will be discussed on Thursday, said this would support a “no blame” culture when investigating and responding to incidents.

The report said: “St Luke’s will continue to provide its current range of high quality services and will seek to expand these as resources allow.”