Rising numbers of younger adults need hospice care in Sussex 

The charity’s two adult hospices – St Barnabas House in Worthing and Martlets in Hove – are caring for a higher number of younger adults each year. Since 2023, the adult hospices have seen a steady increase in patients aged 45 to 65 requiring specialist palliative care. In the past month alone, almost a quarter of the people cared for were within this age group. This includes people supported in their own homes as well as those receiving care in hospice beds.  

The Group’s Interim Medical Lead Dr. Jane Whitehurst is concerned about the extra pressures the hospices are facing saying: “There is a perception that hospices primarily care for older people, but we provide specialist clinical support for all ages. The trend in the rising numbers of younger adults needing access to hospice care highlights the growing demand on our services and the need for flexible, patient-focused care that is tailored to our communities and can meet the different needs of our diverse patient group.”  

Hospices work alongside GPs and community nurses to reduce inappropriate hospital admissions and help keep people out of A&E.  

She added: “We aim to make it possible for people to live and die well in their home, nursing home or hospice, with their loved ones present.”  

 Hospice UK estimates that up to 90% of people who die in the UK could benefit from palliative care. While demand for generalist support is high, hospices offer specialist clinical care from expert teams. Yet, 2 in 5 hospices are being forced to cut services due to funding shortages, leaving countless people without adequate end-of-life care or the ability to choose where they die.  

Southern Hospice Group is working towards long-term sustainability to ensure that essential hospice care continues to be available for future generations. With only a fifth of its funding coming from the government, the Group relies heavily on donations. To try and raise much-needed funds, the Group has launched a winter appeal and the money raised will help all three hospices to continue providing vital care.     

Marc pictured talking about the care he has received

Marc, who features in the appeal, is a patient who is within the younger age group and has been receiving palliative care at home from Martlets for five years. He was diagnosed with cancer when he was only 46 years old and can’t imagine a world without hospice care. But he still has fears about where he may die, saying: “My biggest worry is that when I need a bed, there won’t be one available because there isn’t the funding to open it, or because the hospice is full. It’s not a certainty. And that scares the hell out of me.”

He added: “Before my diagnosis I was fit and healthy and I never thought cancer would happen to me. It’s a sobering thought, but one day it might be you or someone you love that needs hospice care and I want Martlets to be here for everyone who needs them.”

It costs over £21million for the adult hospices to provide their care services. This figure has gone up as bills have risen, and it’s far more than is received in government funding; the Group now has a deficit of almost £4million. Currently, Southern Hospice Group has eight adult in-patient beds closed because it can’t afford to open them – the increase in national insurance alone has cost the Group an additional £500,000. Without adequate funding, the Group will find it increasingly difficult to deliver services that meet the needs of their communities.

Group CEO Stuart Palma highlights the urgency of the situation and said: “We are doing everything possible to secure the future of local hospice care, but we cannot continue to operate at a loss. We know that the rising cost of living has left people with less money, and this has caused a significant decline in the amount that they are able to donate to us. We are so grateful for the support of our community, and every gesture, big or small, makes a real difference.”