The Liberal Democrats' analysis followed news that two in five hospices are planning cuts this year, with 50% of children's hospices saying they will cut or stop providing end of life care altogether if new funding is not guaranteed in six months.

Lib Dem care spokesperson, Alison Bennett, said: ‘Our hospice sector is hurtling towards disaster.  Staff are being laid off, beds are mothballed and patients are paying the price. Countless families are anxious about what will happen to their child or parent or friend in the months ahead.'

A Hospice UK survey found more than half of hospices ended the 2024-25 financial year in deficit, with one in five seeing a deficit of over £1m.

New analysis of ONS figures, meanwhile, has revealed over 30,000 people in England are now spending their dying days in a hospice each year, up from 26,566 in 2020.

The Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign to save our hospices calling on the Government to end the postcode lottery of care by allocating funding based on need, protect ringfenced funding for children's hospices, reverse April's national insurance hike and offer additional support to protect bereavement services.

Hospices received £126m in Government funding in December 2024 but Hospice UK chief executive, Toby Porter, warned the current situation where two-thirds of income comes from charitable donations was not sustainable.

‘Hospices are on the brink,' Porter said. ‘Surging costs have led to many services being cut back - just as demand is rising, fast, because of our ageing population. As it stands, roughly two in five hospices are planning to make cuts this year.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘Hospices do incredible work to support people and families when they need it most, and we recognise the incredibly tough pressures they are facing.

‘That's why we have made the biggest investment in a generation - £100m – to improve hospice facilities. NHS England is also providing £26m for children and young people's hospices.

‘Through our 10-Year Health Plan, we will make sure the palliative and end of life care sector is sustainable as we shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community.'