Residents of Francis House Hospice in Manchester have expressed their heartbreaking fears for their home’s closure, following Labour’s raid on National Insurance contributions.
Hospices across the UK are facing a severe financial crisis following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s changes to employer contributions in the Budget, forcing them to grapple with hundreds of thousands of pounds in additional costs.
Vicky Marsh and Kyle Wells feared for the closure of their hospice, Francis House
GB News
“I was born with a congenital heart defect, and through finding out that I can go to a hospice, I then started coming to the hospice since 2005 for respite. And now I’ve been living here for about nine years,” she told GB News.
She voiced her fears about the hospice’s future: “I would be devastated if Francis House was in danger, I wouldn’t know what to do.
“I would be panicking about where to go, and how I’m going to live without the support and the care that I do need.”
Marsh emphasised her dependence on round-the-clock care, stating: “I can’t really live on my own without any carers or 24 hour care.”
Reeves announced the changes to National Insurance Contributions in Labour’s October Budget
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Fellow Francis House resident Kyle Wells shared his 25-year experience with the hospice’s care services, and how they played a significant role in his care growing up.
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“When I was going through a bad time at home, growing up, it was just a safe zone. And I knew at least for the weekends, I was going to be cared for,” he told GB News.
Wells emphasised the widespread impact of the hospice’s services on families.
“So families losing out on the care of Francis House, I imagine they would be devastated,” he said.
He made a direct plea to Labour for financial support for Francis House, stating: “I can’t say how much it means to me, and it means so much to other families for so many different things. We just need the funding.”
Sophie Reaper spoke to Marsh and Wells at their hospice in Manchester
GB News
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has acknowledged the crisis, promising financial assistance for hospices.
Streeting announced last month that he would modify the Government’s grant to “make sure we’re protecting our hospices”, with further details expected before Christmas.
The Department of Health and Social Care has said it is “working to make sure everyone has access to high-quality end of life care”.
It added that the Chancellor’s budget decisions had enabled “another £26billion” investment in the NHS.
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