Sir Gavin Williamson met with the Chief Executive of Compton Care, a hospice based in Wolverhampton.
Sir Gavin joined Rachel Overfield, CEO, alongside trustee Jim McKinnon, to discuss funding for hospices. The charity has raised concerns about the availability of financial support from Local Integrated Care Boards.
Currently, most hospices receive around a third of their income from the NHS and central government, however, since 2022 NHS funding for end of life care services has been allocated through local ICBs. In January this year, a report published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hospice and End of Life Care revealed that ICBs have often failed to support hospice services, resulting in a reduction in service provision.
Compton Care has been supporting patients for over 40 years with specialist palliative and bereavement services.
Sir Gavin said: “It was a pleasure to visit Compton Care and meet the wonderful staff who provide such thoughtful care and support for those living with life limiting conditions. Palliative care makes patients and their families more comfortable during an incredibly difficult time and it is vital that we do our best to support these services.”
Rachel Overfield, Chief Executive Officer at Compton Care, said: “Thank you for your time and for visiting us to find out more how Compton is caring for people with life limiting conditions in South Staffs, Wolverhampton and parts of the Black Country. Your support in helping to ensure that we receive the appropriate level of NHS funding is much appreciated. Specialist palliative and end of life care providers like us - facing a rise in running costs and an increase in demand for our services - shouldn’t have to rely on fundraising campaigns to deliver our vital services.”
