Hospice UK responds to the Chancellor’s announcement

Toby Porter, Chief Executive of Hospice UK said: "The Chancellor’s announcement may worry many people at the end of life who will be concerned about how they will meet rising energy costs after March without the guaranteed support previously pledged by the Government.

"For many adults receiving end of life care, reducing their energy consumption is not an option, meaning access to support with their rapidly rising energy costs is crucial. Similarly, many children receiving hospice care have complex medical and mobility aids at home, which lead to far higher bills than average. It is vital that individuals and families in receipt of palliative care are prioritised in any targeted support after March.

"Hospices support over 300,000 people every year and are also facing significant increases in energy costs. The Government has not yet set out how vital services like hospices will be supported with their energy bills after March 2023. Just like the people and families that they care for, hospices are vulnerable to the impact of energy price rises, and must be supported."