A Dorset end of life charity is set to lose £400,000 in NHS funding, blasting the decision as 'unacceptable'.

Weldmar Hospicecare has confirmed that it has received formal notification that NHS Dorset is reducing its funding.

Currently, Weldmar is commissioned by NHS Dorset to provide specialist hands-on care in patients' own homes, usually in the last few weeks of life.

Not only does Weldmar subsidise this service by 60 per cent through charitable funds, but the £400,000 of Fast Track Funding is now being withdrawn in April 2025.

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The under pressure care provider has previously said its services are facing increasing demand as costs spiral.

It estimates that the cost of providing care will be around £1m more this financial year and currently needs to raise £27,500 a day to run its services

Caroline Hamblett, chief executive of Weldmar Hospicecare, said:  “We are focusing on the impact that this reduction in NHS funding will mean for us and will be working with our teams to identify a sustainable position that takes into account the reduction in funding as well as the increased demand for our services which undoubtedly reduces significant pressure on NHS services.

"The government’s plans to provide more care in the community will heavily rely on providers such as hospices, which allow people to be surrounded by their loved ones at the end of their lives.

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"We have played a key role over the last few years in keeping people out of hospital by reducing avoidable hospital admissions, and therefore reducing the pressure on the NHS.

"The decision for this care to be provided by domiciliary agencies instead of specialist providers, such as Weldmar, is disappointing and the reduction in funding will clearly impact the number of people that Weldmar can support when they need it most.

"We were already subsidising this care by 60 per cent and it is not financially viable nor acceptable to expect us to use charitable funds to fully support this NHS provision with domiciliary care.”

Weldmar has seen a consistent increase in demand for their services, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic, with more people wishing to be cared for at home, surrounded by their loved ones and home comforts.

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This latest announcement comes as another major blow after it called for the Government to review the 'unsustainable' funding of hospices - a formula it describes as 'not fit for purpose' - and the recent hike in National Insurance tax.

Caroline Hamblett added: “Sustainable and reliable funding from the NHS is essential to help fund our vital services, that are available free of charge to the Dorset community.

"When we already need to raise over £27,000 every single day to keep our services running, the support from our local community, as well as funders and commissioners, has never been more important.

"With NHS Dorset withdrawing this funding, alongside the recently announced employer national insurance contribution increase, results in an additional burden of around £600,000, on top of our already forecast deficit of £1M, and we will therefore need to continue to use what reserves we can to continue our vital services to the Dorset community.

"We are disappointed that this decision has been made and will continue working on redesigning our services to support as many people as possible, as the additional demand on services continues.”

NHS Dorset has been approached for comment.