Les Bourgs Hospice, faced with rising demands, is using up financial reserves - a new funding solution is needed
- Les Bourgs Hospice requires new funding solutions due to increasing operational costs.
- The annual operating cost of the hospice is £2.8 million, with 85% allocated to patient care.
- Demand for hospice services has risen significantly, requiring more complex care and staffing.
- The hospice's reserves were drawn down by £1m in 2024 and £250,000 last year and cannot assure long-term financial stability.
- The hospice plans to explore partnerships with government and health entities for future sustainability.
Les Bourgs Hospice has announced that community support alone may not suffice to cover the rising costs and complexities of care it provides, and the charity is calling for new, sustainable funding solutions.
Chief Executive Rob Jones highlighted that the hospice incurs an annual cost of £2.8 million to operate, with a significant 85% of that funding going directly to patient care.
"Les Bourgs is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing specialist palliative and respite care, free of charge," stated Mr Jones.
He emphasised that while community support is vital, the costs associated with rising demand and increasingly complex patient needs require a reevaluation of funding strategies.
The hospice is experiencing a marked increase in patients with multiple complex conditions, necessitating higher staffing levels, including instances of two-to-one care for certain individuals.
Mr Jones added: "We also provide vital emotional support to families, because the last thing we want is for them to carry trauma with them for the rest of their lives."
In an effort to address these challenges, the hospice has ramped up nurse recruitment while facing escalating pay costs associated with national nursing pay agreements and inflation.
In 2024, Les Bourgs was compelled to utilise approximately £1 million from its reserves.
A more favourable fundraising year and increased legacies and grants have allowed them to reduce this figure to about £250,000 in 2025.
Mr Jones cautioned, though, that reliance on reserves is not a viable long-term solution: “We have enough in our reserves to see us through a maximum of three years, but that can disappear very quickly.”
Financial forecasting indicates possible shortfalls could rise to £2 million in a single year if income does not keep pace with rising expenses.
Despite these concerns, community backing remains strong, marked by an impressive 40% increase in retail shop sales this year thanks to operational improvements. The hospice aims to expand its retail presence across the island.
“Our shop isn’t a charity shop – it’s a donation to care," explained Mr Jones, reinforcing the importance of every contribution made through volunteering, fundraising, and donations. "Every form of support makes a real difference."
The Quarry
As Les Bourgs prepares to celebrate its 35th anniversary, the organisation aims to look beyond traditional fundraising measures.
“Most UK hospices receive a level of state support,” Mr Jones noted, indicating efforts to collaborate with the States on a comprehensive palliative care strategy to address future needs. The collaboration aims to develop a framework for sustained partnerships involving government, healthcare providers, and the charitable sector.
"Les Bourgs has enriched this island for 34 years. We’re now looking to the next 35 – but to do that, we need financial support to match the growing need for our care."
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