Urgent fundraising campaign launched for Queenscourt Hospice

Based in Southport, Queenscourt Hospice has launched a ‘Keep Queenscourt in Service’ fundraising campaign to raise money for the charity.

Founded in 1991, Queenscourt provides compassionate care for patients and their families across Southport, West Lancashire and Formby. Today, it announced that it is now being forced into considering reducing the services it offers to patients. 

This comes after the most challenging financial time the hospice has faced in its 35-year history. Queenscourt is now asking for donations to help support them during this funding crisis.

The hospice relies on short-term grants, fundraising and personal donations to help meet the costs of its services, with just 24% of Queenscourt’s funding coming from the NHS last year. 

Due to the rising costs of salaries, impact of new tax initiatives and National Insurance, increase of energy bills and with Government funding failing to keep up with these rising costs, it means that Queenscourt is now operating at a £2 million deficit. 

Louise Charnock, Executive Director of Nursing Services, said:

“Queenscourt has been delivering exceptional compassionate care for 35 years, and as we reach this significant milestone in 2026, we face the toughest financial challenge we have ever faced.

“Demand for our Specialist Palliative Care services has never been greater. Yet at the very moment need is rising, our everyday costs are escalating sharply, and our charitable income is falling.

“Queenscourt has been operating with an annual deficit of £2 million for the past two years, and the same shortfall is predicted for 2026/27.”

This deficit has been created by a “perfect storm” of pressures

• Legacy income has fallen dramatically — from over £1.2 million a year to around £250,000.
• Employer National Insurance contributions have risen.
• Staff salary uplifts are essential to keep pace with NHS pay.
• Fundraising is more challenging than ever.
• Retail income is declining along with wider high‑street footfall.

But Queenscourt Hospice is not alone, with these challenges being part of a national funding crisis currently gripping hospices across the UK.

This year, two in every five hospices are preparing to make cuts, and Hospice UK is also reporting that a total of 380 hospice beds out of 2000 now lie empty in the UK.

Dr Clare Finnegan, Executive Medical Director, said:

 “Queenscourt is working tirelessly with our hospice collaboratives and NHS Integrated Care Boards to secure fairer, more sustainable funding – the kind that would finally bring us closer to the national average of between 35–40% contribution towards hospice costs. This process takes time, and time is something that our financial position does not afford us.

“Right now, our situation is unsustainable, and we are being forced to consider the possibility of reducing vital services. This is a step we never imagined we might have to contemplate”.

In addition to undertaking the review of its services, Queenscourt is appealing to the local community to explore how they can help support their local hospice.

Sam Hawksley, Executive Director of Strategy and Business Development, said: 

“Queenscourt has an established network of fundraisers across the region, who have provided vital financial support to our hospice over the years. This support has ensured we have been able to provide full palliative care and end of life care to patients and families in Southport, West Lancashire and Formby.

“We desperately need the support of our local community at this time, to ensure that everyone has access to the end-of-life care and support and to safeguard the future of our hospice.

“We need your support to KEEP QUEENSCOURT IN SERVICE, your donations, gifts-in-kind, gifts in Wills and your time taken to volunteer for Queenscourt. These things all make a massive difference to our charity and will do so in the challenging times ahead.”

Find out more about Queenscourt here.

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