I would like to wish you a very healthy and happy 2024.

While many of us enjoyed some time off over the festive period, some industries – by their very nature – cannot take a break. Hospice care providers like Sidmouth Hospice at Home and Hospiscare continued their services uninterrupted. Sidmouth Hospice at Home and Hospiscare provide incredible support and comfort to so many people across Devon.

Sidmouth Hospice at Home has a day centre in Sidford, and a 24/7 specialist nursing team working with the local NHS Dementia Services Team who benefit from the use of their building. Seaton Hospice at Home, run by the Seaton & District Hospital League of Friends, serves communities in Seaton, Colyton & Beer. Across the rest of our part of Devon, Hospiscare runs hospices at High View Gardens in Exmouth, Searle House in Exeter, and Kings House in Honiton, and has fantastic clinical nurse specialist teams in Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth, and Axminster.

I’ve been calling on NHS Devon to increase their funding to all our hospices. Hospiscare is funded for only 18% of its costs from NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB), compared to a national average of 32% from ICBs in England. Sidmouth Hospice at Home receives no funding from the ICB at all, despite speeding up patient discharge from local hospitals. ICBs – rather than the government or NHS England – are responsible for determining hospice care funding.

Following my recent letter to NHS Devon ICB, I met with Hospiscare’s CEO, Andrew Randall, and Clinical Director, Ann Rhys, at Kings House in Honiton to learn more about their day-to-day operation.

I’ll continue supporting our local hospice care providers and the brilliant work they do across Devon. I first raised this funding issue in 2022 and I hope Devon NHS finally listens and gives them the money they need to continue supporting our county.

If you need help or support then please do contact me via simon.jupp.mp@parliament.uk, by ringing 01395 542750 to leave a voicemail, or by writing to me at Simon Jupp MP, Mamhead View, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 1DU.