End-of-life care providers in Northern Ireland state they cannot continue operations effectively after the Department of Health rejected additional funding. Currently, government funds cover 30% of hospice services, with the remainder raised through donations.

The Hospice Alliance Northern Ireland, which includes Foyle Hospice, Elvara Hospice, Marie Curie NI, and the Northern Ireland Hospice, expressed disappointment over the decision. The group argues that depending on donations for essential clinical services lacks sustainability and fairness.

Staff at these facilities manage complex palliative care needs, the alliance notes. Without stable funding and system integration, patients would transfer to hospitals, adding strain to the health service.

A Stormont Health Committee report from last December identified gaps in palliative care provision. It documented cases of patients treated and dying in emergency departments due to unavailable out-of-hours services. The report calls for legislation to secure commissioning and funding of palliative care, plus appointment of a regional clinical lead and service prioritization.

DoH officials confirmed acceptance of the recommendations but cited insufficient funds for full implementation. They described achieving 100% funding as challenging under current budget limits and plan further work toward a sustainable model.

The department affirmed the importance of hospices and committed to collaborating with the sector on the recommendations.

DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds called the DoH response hugely disappointing, comparing it to expecting charitable funding for childbirth services. Committee chair Philip McGuigan described the stance as concerning and stressed end-of-life care as a human right, urging executive budget approval for a fit-for-purpose service.