Weldmar Hospicecare, a leading end-of-life charity, is threatened by significant funding cuts and is trying to find ways to continue delivering care in people’s homes. NHS Dorset commissioned Weldmar Hospicecare to provide specialist hands-on care in patients’ homes, usually in the last few weeks of their lives.
Not only does Weldmar subsidize this service by 60 per cent through charitable funds, but the £400,000 of Fast Track Funding will be withdrawn in April 2025. Over 80 per cent of the charity’s care occurs within people’s homes.
Weldmar’s new hospice-at-home model proposalÂ
This is why Weldmar proposes a new ‘hospice at home’ model that blends its existing community nursing and the Weldmar at Home services.
“This will ensure patients receive the best and most appropriate level of care when and where they need it. The proposal enables us to continue meeting the increased demand for our care and the ability to support as many patients as possible whilst also meeting the need for us to be financially sustainable so that we can continue providing care into the future.”, said Caroline Hamblett, Chief Executive at Weldmar Hospicecare.
She further mentioned the likelihood of fewer colleagues leaving the organization due to the proposed changes. Still, they should note that they are tirelessly working to ensure that as many staff members as possible can transition to an alternative role within the charity.
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Dorset ends the contract with Marie Curie
On the other hand, NHS Dorset has confirmed that it will not renew its contract with Marie Curie, leaving 33 jobs at risk. NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board (ICB) has given the end-of-life charity notice that its service contract, which sees Marie Curie Nurses and Healthcare Assistants provide end-of-life care in people’s homes during the day and night, will not be renewed after March 31.
Marie Curie is now consulting with the staff impacted, focusing on supporting them and the people they care for during this difficult time, the charity says it will continue to discuss what alternative support can be offered to dying people and their families in Dorset. It hopes this will result in other ways of providing support.
With the unfolding of these funding issues, Weldmar Hospicecare and Marie Curie are calling on the public and potential donors to help bridge the financial gap and maintain vital services for end-of-life patients in Dorset.