PALLIATIVE health care provider Thames Hospice is calling for urgent support as demand for its hospice care rises.
With the number of annual deaths in the UK expected to rise by 130,000 by 2040, the group has joined a coalition of hospices working to ensure vital end-of-life care remains accessible for all who need it.
Jane Symmons, fundraising director, said: “We need to start future proofing.
“If we don’t, the gap in hospice care could become very real.
“The increasing demand will place unprecedented pressure on our services, which already rely on the generosity of our supporters.”
By 2040, the UK will see a significant rise in the number of people requiring palliative and end-of-life care.
Closer to home, Thames Hospice expects demand in its catchment area to grow by at least 9% by 2030.
As part of a national ‘This is Hospice Care’ campaign this February, the group is standing alongside more than 140 hospices across England, Scotland, and Wales to highlight the growing need for hospice services and the urgent action required to meet future demand.
One of the most crucial ways to support hospice care for future generations is through gifts in Wills, which currently fund one in five inpatient beds at Thames Hospice.
Jane continued: “Gifts in Wills are essential to the survival and growth of hospices like ours. “By leaving a gift in your Will, supporters ensure that hospice care continues to be there for families when they need us most.”
The national campaign, which is showing on national TV channels this month, is already making an impact with a powerful TV advert based on real-life hospice stories.
Thames Hospice will be supporting this movement by showcasing the life-changing difference that gifts in Wills make, including inspiring stories like that of supporter Nicki Farrell.
Nicki, who has pledged a gift in her Will to Thames Hospice, shared her heartfelt reason for giving.
She said: “The care that Thames Hospice provided to my dad and us as a family was incredible.
“Dad was adamant that he wanted to spend his final days in the Hospice.
“Because he couldn’t give me away on my wedding day, my special in-memory gesture is being able to continue the support of Thames Hospice by leaving a gift in my Will.”
To find out more and to request a free Gifts in Wills Guide, visit: thameshospice.org.uk/giftinwill, call: 01753 847 308 or email: wills@thameshospice.org.uk
