Our response to the Autumn Budget

Delivering the first Labour budget in 14 years, the Chancellor outlined the Government's spending decisions. Announcements on healthcare funding and employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) are of interest to Sue Ryder, as these measures will directly impact palliative and end-of-life care.

We welcome the Government’s announcement of a £22.6 billion increase in the day-to-day health budget, and a £3.1 billion increase in the capital budget, over this year and next year. We hope a proportion of this budget will go towards palliative and end-of-life care, making sure that it is available for patients and families who need it.

We recognise the need for the Government to raise income to support increases in spending in areas such as health. However the decision to increase the level of employer NICs and to lower the threshold at where this contribution must be paid will put further financial strain on Sue Ryder, and the voluntary sector as a whole.

On average, only one third of charitable hospice income comes from the Government.

We are therefore urging the Government to consider the impact of this decision on the voluntary sector, and to ensure vital funds the move will create support for the hospice sector to meet the increasing need for palliative and end-of-life care.

"We welcome the Government’s announcement of additional funding for healthcare - particularly as 90% of people who die in the UK may need palliative care, but currently only around 50% of people are receiving it.

We hope that a proportion of this will go towards making sure funding for hospice services keeps pace with demand, so that palliative and end-of-life care is available for patients and families who need it.

We also welcome the steps announced to improve outcomes for those on low wages, however this combined with the increase to employers' national insurance contributions adds another financial pressure to us, as a charity, and therefore to the vital care that we provide.

We urge the government to consider the impacts of these announcements on the voluntary sector as a whole, and also to commit to a review of sustainable end of life care funding ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review."