Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies is urging the Welsh Government to promptly allocate the funding package it recently announced for hospices.
In recent weeks James has been contacted by local hospices who have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and are increasingly concerned as to when they will receive a share of the additional funding the Welsh Government recently announced for hospices in Wales, which could be up to £6.3 million.
This week he has written to the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething AM, urging him to provide clarification on the matter.
James said:
“Hospices in North Wales, including St Kentigern Hospice in St Asaph and Hope House Children’s Hospices, are increasingly concerned regarding the allocation of funding support to hospices in Wales. Whilst funding has been made available from UK Government to Welsh Government, I am informed by the hospices that there is a lack of clarity with regards to the mechanisms and timescales within which hospices will receive the funding from Welsh Government.
“A large proportion of charitable income for a hospice arises from fundraising events, the running of charity shops and donations. In the current climate, these income streams are greatly reduced and that is putting an enormous amount of strain on the vital services that the hospices provide.
“Whilst I welcome the fact that the Welsh Government have announced a funding package specifically for hospices, it is absolutely crucial that this funding is allocated promptly to our hospices who are continuing to provide exceptional service in these challenging times, despite having been hit hard, and I urge the Health Secretary to get this funding to the front line swiftly.”
