Queenscourt Hospice Launches Keep Queenscourt in Service Campaign as it reports £2 million Annual Deficit

Community | 13 March 2026

Queenscourt Hospice Launches Keep Queenscourt in Service Campaign as it reports £2 million Annual Deficit

Queenscourt Hospice has relaunched its Keep Queenscourt in Service fundraising campaign to raise emergency funds for the charity.

The news comes as the hospice announces that it is being forced to consider reducing the services it provides for patients, during the most financially challenging times it has faced in its 35-year history.

Queenscourt, which provides exceptional compassionate care for patients and their families across West Lancashire, Formby and Southport, has been impacted by a number of financial challenges. This now means that Queenscourt’s financial position is untenable.

Last year just 24% of Queenscourt’s funding came from the NHS, with the hospice relying on short-term grants, fundraising and personal donations to meet the remaining cost of its services.

However, the rising costs of salaries, the impact of new tax initiatives such as employee National Insurance, the increase in energy bills and the fact that Government funding has failed to keep up with these rising costs 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 widening gap facing Queenscourt 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.

Queenscourt Hospice is not alone. The financial challenges facing Queenscourt is part of a national funding crisis gripping hospices across the UK. The situation is stark: two in every five hospices are preparing to make cuts this year 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”.

Keep Queenscourt in Service

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.”

To help support Queenscourt during this immediate funding crisis, Queenscourt is asking for donations to be made via  queenscourt.org.uk/KeepQueenscourtInService, or by calling our Fundraising Team on 01704 517420 to make a donation over the phone.

Notes to Editors

Since 1991, Queenscourt Hospice has provided exceptional palliative care for approx. 70,000 patients and their families.

Queenscourt operates an inpatient unit and provides end of life care in the community and at home as well as teaching through its Terrance Burgess Education Centre.  The hospice employs teams of doctors, nurses, bereavement support workers, counsellors, fundraisers, retail staff, coordinators, support staff and is also proud of its large network of volunteers.