Hospice UK and Hospices Cymru are calling for urgent action from Welsh Government to secure fair and stable funding for hospice care, warning that essential services will become increasingly difficult to sustain without investment.

It estimates that an additional £30 million is needed to ensure hospices can continue delivering vital services throughout the remainder of this Senedd term.

The call follows a joint briefing at the Senedd, delivered with Hospices Cymru, Hospice UK and Marie Curie Cymru.

Members of the Senedd heard directly from patients, families and hospice staff about the pressures facing palliative and end of life care.

Across Wales, hospices support more than 20,000 children and adults every year, but demand for hospice care is rising fast as people live longer with more complex conditions. Many hospices are seeing more urgent referrals and growing pressure on community teams.

Despite the vital role they play, hospices still rely on charitable fundraising for around two thirds of their income, alongside year‑by‑year Welsh Government grants with no guarantee they will continue.

This lack of stability is placing services under strain and limiting the ability of hospices to plan for the future.

Public concern is growing too with more than 7,000 people across Wales writing to their MS calling for stable funding to protect hospice care.

Liz Booyse, Chair of Hospices Cymru and Chief Executive of City Hospice, said, “A recurring funding commitment for the remainder of this Senedd term is essential. Hospice teams are caring for people with increasingly urgent and complex needs, at a time when many services are under real strain from rising costs and demand.

“Securing stable funding will safeguard care today and give hospices, Welsh Government and the NHS the stability needed to plan a sustainable future for palliative and end of life services in Wales.”