Hospices across England are set to benefit from £100m in government funding over the next two years to enhance end-of-life care, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced. An additional £26m will be allocated specifically to hospices for children and young people, continuing support previously provided through grants.

The funding follows warnings from hospice leaders about increasing financial pressures, which have forced some to close beds. With only around a third of hospice funding coming from the NHS, the remainder must be raised through donations, fundraising, and charity shops. The government described this announcement as the "biggest investment in a generation" for the hospice sector, with funds aimed at improving facilities, equipment, and accommodation.

Planned improvements include refurbishing patient rooms and bathrooms, creating comfortable spaces for families to stay overnight, and enhancing hospice gardens and green spaces. Wes Streeting stated: "Hospices offer vital care and support during the most challenging times, and this funding will help ensure they continue to deliver compassionate care in the best possible environment."

Charity Hospice UK, which had called for £110m to sustain hospices through rising costs, welcomed the funding. CEO Toby Porter said it would help provide care to hundreds of thousands of people annually and ease pressure on the NHS. Further details about the funding allocation will be shared with the sector in the new year.