Focus on palliative care not assisted dying – doctor

Many other hospices nationally are in the similar position.

Hospice UK, which represents the sector, has requested £110m in emergency funding.

“High quality end-of-life and palliative care is currently not available to everyone who needs it,” it said, adding that demand continued to grow.

The organisation has called on MPs to back “greater investment”.

Earlier this month, Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC he would “make sure we’re protecting our hospices”, after concerns that the rise in National Insurance (NI) employer contributions, announced in the Budget, would negatively affect hospice finances and their ability to support people.

“Looking after the terminally ill is not a burden, it’s a privilege and that is what we should be concentrating on,” Dr Blaber said.