300 beds lie empty, while sick and dying people have to be turned away. Inpatient units are closing, and the trickle of redundancies is turning into a stream.

We face the unprecedented threat of half of children’s hospices cutting their end of life care or scrapping it altogether if ring-fenced funding is not urgently guaranteed.

Hospices suffered real terms cuts under the last government, and now a massive National Insurance raid under this one. Patients deserve better.

Liberal Democrats are launching a campaign today to stop hospice cuts, and end the shocking postcode lottery of hospice care, following the passing of our ‘Protecting our Hospices’ motion at our most recent conference.

We’re calling for funding to be allocated according to need, with ringfenced funding for children’s hospices. We’re urging the government to introduce a dedicated hospice workforce plan - and for the disastrous National Insurance Hike to be immediately reversed.

John, the government is weighing up a new hospice funding settlement as you read this email.

Can you help us be the strongest possible voice for our hospices by signing the petition below?

And if you have personal experience with a hospice, and feel comfortable to share it, would you record a video like Clare’s or a voice message to help us illustrate the difference hospices make?

This is about compassion, fairness, and dignity, John.

Everyone deserves access to excellent care at the end of life. It’s time for the Government to act before it’s too late.

With best wishes and thanks,