The Fragility of Hospice Funding: The power of a proactive Community
By Niki Ellis, CEO, Tapping House
Over the past few weeks, I’ve shared reflections on the fragility of hospice funding – and the truth that goodwill alone cannot sustain the vital care our communities depend on.
In this final piece, I want to focus on something far more hopeful: the extraordinary power we all hold to make a difference.
Because the truth is, hospices like ours were built – and continue to thrive – on the strength of community. When times are hard, it’s people who step forward: to volunteer, to fundraise, to advocate, and to share stories that help others understand what hospice care truly means.
Talk, share, and help change the conversation
If hospice care has touched your life, please – talk about it.
Share your story. Tell your MP. Tell your friends. Every time we speak openly about death, dying, and grief, we help change the narrative – moving from fear and avoidance to connection and understanding.
At a time when the Assisted Dying Bill is once again in the headlines, it’s vital that the hospice voice is heard just as clearly. Both conversations have their place, but we must ensure that the choice for a good, natural death – supported by care, dignity, and comfort – remains a genuine option for everyone.
No one should ever feel that a lack of access to high-quality hospice care drives their end-of-life decisions. By speaking up, we help make sure that hospice care continues to thrive giving people the compassion, choice, and support they deserve at the end of life.
Be proactive, not reactive
We are at a pivotal moment for hospice care.
The government’s NHS 10-year plan calls for a shift from acute hospitals to community care, and from reactive to proactive care. These principles lie at the very heart of what we do at Tapping House.
We’ve been quietly innovating for years – pioneering nurse-led inpatient care and rehabilitative palliative therapy, exploring digital transformation, and building proactive models of support that help people stay well for longer.
Our vision aligns with national change. We are ready to be part of the solution. But we cannot do it alone.
Support that sustains care
As I’ve said many times, our community truly is our lifeline. When faced with financial challenges, we invested in fundraising and new income streams – and you responded with overwhelming generosity. That support has kept our doors open, our nurses on the wards, and our therapies available to patients and families.
But sustaining hospice care requires more than generosity;
it requires engagement.
Come and walk in our gardens. Have lunch or a coffee in our café. Volunteer your time. Fundraise with your friends or colleagues. Buy your Christmas cards and gifts from our shops or online store. If you’re a local business, you can even sponsor a star in our Shine a Light campaign.
Every single act whether big or small helps strengthen the safety net that supports families when they need it most.
My final Christmas wish
As we approach Christmas, my wish is simple:
That we move beyond goodwill to lasting change. That together, we champion fair funding and protect the compassionate care that defines us.
Please share your story, speak to your MP, donate, volunteer, or simply talk about what hospice care has meant to you.
Life is fragile. Hospice funding shouldn’t be. Every day, we see how precious life is – yet the pressure to find funds never fades.
This Christmas become a Hospice Champion. Because when life is fragile, hospices like ours – and all those we care for – should never feel vulnerable.
Together, I truly believe we can protect the care that protects us all.