More money for hospices

I was heartened by the Welsh Conservatives first policy announcement of the New Year, which made firm commitments to provide more funding for hospices in Wales, and promised to review the funding arrangements for the whole care sector in Wales.

With two excellent hospices in the Conwy area, it is important that the people of Aberconwy know exactly where we stand on this important issue in the run up to May's Assembly elections. I am pleased that a Welsh Conservative Assembly Government would be committed to increasing core funding to hospices and palliative care in Wales by £10 million a year.

Having recently visited both Ty Gobaith and the St David’s Hospice, it is clear that both are playing a vital role in providing experienced care services to support the work of the NHS in North Wales. In particular, the visit to Ty Gobaith with Jonathan Morgan AM (pictured above) and our conversations with chief fundraiser Sarah Kearsley-Wooller helped, I believe, to develop this policy.

Whilst their fundraising efforts are second to none, more needs to be done by the Assembly to ensure that this work continues and it is clear that more funding is needed to ensure that hospices in Wales get the same level of financial support as those in England.

This financial commitment will help to guarantee that hospices in Wales can begin to plan more securely for their futures, and are able to continue to provide the highest standards of respite and palliative care.