Trust supports Sue Ryder during Cost of Dying Crisis

23 Nov 2023

The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust has today announced that it will be offering financial support to Sue Ryder, after hearing how the national healthcare charity is battling increasing costs to deliver end-of-life care. This comes at a time when the number of people needing support is predicted to rise.

Crucial financial support for our care

Philanthropists, Julia and Hans Rausing, will be providing grants of £8.7 million to 27 hospices across the UK, including three Sue Ryder hospices, to help them meet the significant increase in their day-to-day costs, brought about by inflation and high energy prices.

Sue Ryder's £1,050,000 award, which will spread over the next three years, will help the charity battle the continued impact of the cost of living, which has seen the cost of delivering one hour of their care increase from £20 to £25 in the past three years.

With the number of people needing vital end-of-life care projected to rise by 55% by 2030, the financial support is crucial so Sue Ryder can be there for more people when it matters.

Last year, Sue Ryder provided expert and compassionate end-of-life care to over 8,100 people through its hospice teams. At the end of someone’s life, Sue Ryder’s team of doctors, nurses, therapists and physiotherapists can make all the difference.

The specialist care offered ensures that people’s pain and symptoms can be managed, and emotional support can be accessed so that their lives can be filled with friendships, family and favourite pastimes right until the end.

Reaching more people when they really need it

Heidi Travis, Chief Executive at Sue Ryder, said:

“Sue Ryder’s ambition is to provide more care for more people, but due to rising costs and a projected increase in the need for palliative care, we fear we will not be able to be there for everyone who needs us in the future.

“Currently, we only receive around one third of the funds needed to provide our expert end-of-life care from government. This means that Sue Ryder and other palliative care providers such as us, are heavily reliant on the generosity of supporters like Julia and Hans Rausing.

“I am therefore delighted to acknowledge the outstanding generosity of Julia and Hans Rausing and the three-year investment of over £1 million to ensure we can reach more people when they really need it and make sure no one is left to grieve or die alone.

“We send our special thanks to Julia and Hans Rausing for helping to highlight the economic challenges facing the hospice sector at this time and championing the sector with these landmark awards.”

Julia and Hans Rausing commented:

“The rising cost of living has left hospices in a perilous financial position. We know many are receiving fewer or smaller donations than in previous years, so we hope that these grants can be a lifeline, enabling these wonderful hospices to continue providing care and support in their communities across the UK.”