LOROS Hospice has today announced that it has secured funding to open four additional beds on its inpatient ward.
Last summer, rising cost pressures forced the charity to reduce its ward capacity from 31 beds to 18. Thanks to new, short-term ICB funding, four more beds can now be reopened for a four-month period.
Camilla Barrow, interim CEO of LOROS said: “We are grateful that our ICB commissioners recognise the importance of bringing more of our beds back into use. This funding will allow us to open four additional beds so more patients and families can access the specialised care they need. Their decision shows they value our role as a vital system provider during this pressured winter period, and we are extremely grateful for their confidence in the essential work we do.
“However, while the funding is time-limited, the need for high-quality palliative care is not. As things stand, these beds will close again in April 2026, which is simply wrong when demand is so high. All 31 of our beds should be available 365 days a year, but the funding isn’t there to make that possible.”
Wednesday’s budget placed significant emphasis on reducing NHS waiting times. Yet due to the shortage of hospice beds, many hospices—including LOROS—are increasingly being forced to operate waiting lists of their own.
“Unlike many NHS services, people on hospice waiting lists do not have time to wait. These delays mean some individuals cannot access the care they need, denying them the end-of-life support they want and deserve. It is, in short, a tragedy for patients and their families.
Camilla adds: “This short-term funding will enable us to do what we do best: provide exceptional care to patients and families when they need us most, while supporting the resilience of the wider system. But what we need—both for our patients and for the long-term sustainability of our services—is stable, reliable funding. Temporary measures help us manage immediate pressures, but they do not address the underlying issues. Sustainable investment is essential to ensure no one has to wait for the specialist, compassionate hospice care they deserve.”
