The Prince of Wales Hospice and Wakefield Hospice are urging people across the district to consider leaving a gift in their Will, as new figures highlight the growing pressure on hospice and end of life care.

Together, The Prince of Wales Hospice and Wakefield Hospice join 127 other hospices across the country highlighting the This is Hospice Care campaign.

Almost one in three people across the UK are dying without the palliative care and support they need, according to new research from Marie Curie.

At the same time, hospices across England ended the last financial year with a collective deficit of more than £70 million.

placeholder image — The Prince of Wales Hospice.

The two local hospices say the figures underline why long-term support from the local community is so important, including gifts left in Wills.

Rob Edden, director of finance at The Prince of Wales Hospice, said: “The need for hospice care is not going away.

"At The Prince of Wales Hospice, gifts in Wills are a vital part of the care we provide.

"They help towards funding the care of seven out of ten people who use our services and give us the confidence to plan for the future.

"A gift in your Will can make a difference long after you have gone”.

Both hospices provide specialist support for people living with a life-limiting illness, as well as their families.

This can include managing symptoms, providing emotional support, helping people remain independent and supporting families through bereavement.

For The Prince of Wales Hospice and Wakefield Hospice, legacy gifts can provide a vital source of long-term income, helping them continue this work and support local people and their families for generations to come.

Laura Button, deputy director of care services at Wakefield Hospice said: “Each year, Wakefield Hospice touches the lives of thousands of people across our local community.

“Whether we are caring for a patient, supporting their family, or helping friends and loved ones through an incredibly difficult time, the care we provide may take place within our hospice, but its impact reaches far beyond our doors.

“The gifts we receive in Wills are a wonderful reflection of those connections.

"They come not only from people we have cared for, but from people across our community who have seen, experienced or simply believe in the difference Wakefield Hospice makes”.