HOSPICES in Scotland are having to budget for what the sector describes as an “unprecedented” collective deficit of £16 million.
The situation has led to representatives calling on the Scottish government to provide additional funding for hospices in this week’s budget.
National charity Hospice UK said spiralling costs are stretching hospices “to the brink."
The organisation said many are being forced to consider cutting vital services and draw on their limited reserves to meet the shortfall.
It is estimated the sector provides care and support to about 21,000 children and adults in Scotland a year and demand for palliative care is predicted to rise by a fifth by 2040.
Hospice UK said that on average, two-thirds of hospice income comes from fundraising but it is feared the cost-of-living crisis may lead to a significant dip in donations.
The charity said these funding pressures are compounded by huge variation in the levels of local statutory funding that hospices receive across the country.
It said this can lead to inequity for patients and families and creates a “postcode lottery” in terms of how palliative care is funded.
Helen Malo, policy and advocacy manager for Scotland at Hospice UK, said: “Hospices care for some of the most vulnerable people in society, but many are now worrying about the future of their services.
“Hospices need urgent support to ensure they can continue delivering high-quality care for people at the end of life — without worrying about how to pay their hard-working staff a fair wage.”
The Scottish government said it will continue to work with hospices to “support longer-term sustainable planning and commissioning for the sector.”