Responding to today’s Budget announcements, Mark Hawkins, Chief Executive of Rowcroft, said:
“Today’s Budget includes a number of measures aimed at easing some of the cost-of-living pressures facing households, including support with energy bills and wider steps to help families manage rising costs.
For the people we support, financial pressures often go hand in hand with the emotional and practical challenges of living with a life-limiting illness. Any measures that help individuals and families keep more money in their pockets are welcome, particularly at a time when many continue to face uncertainty around household finances and energy costs.
We also recognise the pressures facing our supporters across South Devon, whose generosity enables hospice care to remain free of charge for local patients and families. Their support has never been more important.
At the same time, today’s announcements are a reminder that investment in health and care services remains critically important. Demand for hospice and palliative care continues to grow as our population ages and more people live with complex and life-limiting conditions. Access to high-quality end-of-life care is not a niche issue. It is something that affects every family and every community.
Hospices play a vital role alongside the NHS, helping people live well for as long as possible and providing comfort, dignity and specialist support at the end of life. We hope today’s Budget is accompanied by a continued commitment to ensuring sustainable funding for hospice and palliative care services, so that everyone can receive the care they need, when and where they need it.
Behind every Budget announcement are real people facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. As a society, we must ensure that no one faces death, dying or bereavement without the support they deserve.”