Hospice funding details announced

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Details of how millions of pounds will benefit hospice care throughout Wales have been announced by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Independent care services will receive more than half the £4 million.

The cash boost aims to provide fairer funding for services that help those nearing the end of their lives.

One palliative care expert said while they welcomed more resources but said the funding situation in Wales remained "shameful" compared to England.

The allocations are based on recommendations made last year by a group of experts in palliative care headed by Baroness Llora Finlay.

Part of the funding will support a computerised cancer information service for health professionals.

£2.1m will support clinical palliative care services provided by 18 hospices across Wales, with £1.9m on NHS palliative care services.

Distressing time

Cash will go to hospices across Wales ranging from £342,000 for Holme Tower in Penarth to £5,000 for Usk House in Brecon.

Health Minister Edwina Hart said: "I wish to ensure that the level of care provided at what is a very distressing time, is the very best possible and people have access to services consistently across Wales."

Baroness Finlay said it was important that patients and their families could have access to good quality support wherever they lived in Wales.

"It is vital that we move to a change of work patterns in order to put the patient at the centre of their care," she said.

More support will be provided for out-of-hours care and help for patients at home.

In the past, hospices in Wales have complained their government funding is lower than elsewhere in the UK.

It's a shameful situation. We've never been given any certainty from one year to the next as to how much money we'll be given Professor Mari Lloyd-Williams

Professor Mari Lloyd-Wiliams a lecturer in palliative care at Liverpool University and trustee of St Kentigern Hospice in St Asaph said she was thankful for every penny given to hospices.

But, she added: "It's a shameful situation. We've never been given any certainty from one year to the next as to how much money we'll be given.

"It's so different to the situation in England where much more help is given".

Details

Hospices in the Newport and Gwent Valleys area are due to receive £500,000 - the Hospice of the Valleys in Tredegar, £50,000. St Anne's Hospice in Newport, £170,000. St David's Foundation in Newport, £280,000

Hospices in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan are due to receive £587,000 - Holme Tower, Penarth £342,000, George Thomas Hospice Care, Cardiff £135,000, Ty Hafan children's hospice in Sully £110,000

Ty Olwen hospice in Swansea is set to receive £65,000.

Hospices in west Wales are on course to receive £198,000 - Beacon of Hope in Aberystwyth and Cardigan £61,000, Shalom House Trust £59,000, Paul Sartori Foundation in Pembrokeshire £40,000, Ty Bryngwyn in Llanelli £38,000

Hospices in Powys are set to receive £44,500 including Severn Hospice in Newtown £39,500 and Usk House in Brecon £5,000.

Hospices in north Wales are due to get £683,000 in Welsh Assembly Government funding: St Kentigern in St. Asaph - £130,000. Nightingale House in Wrexham - £60,000.

Gwynedd Hospice at Home - £78,000. Ty Gobaith in Conwy - £175,000 and St David's Foundation - £240,000.