Queenscourt Hospice has unveiled a comprehensive recovery plan designed to secure its long-term future after implementing necessary changes to address an annual funding shortfall of £2 million. As part of the initial phase, the hospice has completed staff reductions and will decrease its Inpatient Ward capacity from ten beds to five starting July 2026. Modifications have also been applied to Queenscourt at Home, Outpatient, Housekeeping, and Catering services.
Community Support Mitigates Redundancies
Generous support from the local community has helped reduce the number of staff redundancies originally anticipated and has enabled the hospice to preserve key elements of its Therapy Service. However, significant long-term funding remains essential.
Path Forward
Having completed the initial steps needed to align expenditure with income, Queenscourt is now concentrating on recovery and sustainability. Key priorities include collaborating with NHS partners and hospice collaboratives to secure more sustainable funding, strengthening income generation and fundraising activities, operating as efficiently as possible while maintaining high-quality patient care, and raising awareness of the hospice’s impact while supporting national campaigns for fair and sustainable hospice funding from the government.
Sam Hawksley, executive director of strategy and business development, commented: "While changes have been very difficult, they were necessary to protect the future of Queenscourt. Our focus is now on recovery and ensuring that we can continue to provide Specialist Palliative Care for local people with life-limiting illnesses when they need us the most."
"We are incredibly grateful for the support shown by our staff, volunteers, and the wider community during this challenging time. Donor support in response to our crisis has made a significant difference to our charity, helping us to start planning the way forward, so that Queenscourt care continues." Current service levels have been designed to maintain excellent Specialist Palliative Care while safeguarding the hospice’s long-term future.
Community Support Remains Vital
Queenscourt’s directors and trustees have thanked the community for its continued support and emphasized that ongoing fundraising and advocacy will play a key role in the hospice’s recovery. "If just 8,000 people donated £5 a week, we could bridge our £2 million funding gap and help secure the future of hospice care in our area," added Sam.
Queenscourt remains committed to supporting patients and their families across West Lancashire, Formby, and Southport and is confident about its future.
How to Help
To support Queenscourt Hospice, visit queenscourt.org.uk/donate or call the Fundraising Team on 01704 517420. Further information about supporting hospice funding and advocacy is available via the Queenscourt website at www.queenscourt.org.uk/kqis.
