Open House - Winter 2025
A message from CEO, Lisa Hunt
Our supporter magazine, Open House, is usually something I look forward to - a chance to pause and reflect on all that we achieve together at Garden House, and the profound difference our work makes to patients and their families.
Sadly, this Winter edition comes at a more difficult time. The narrative feels heavy, frustrating and hard to swallow. Earlier this month, we launched our Crisis Appeal, as we face a funding shortfall.
We have already taken significant steps to reduce what we can control, cutting £1,035,000 in expenditure. Yet with National Insurance costs up by more than £200,000, utility and food bills doubling, medication costs soaring (with no NHS funding for medicines), and charitable income declining, we are still left with a £750,000 gap before the end of the financial year. Next year, this shortfall is projected at £1.1 million, and could rise again following the Chancellor’s budget in November. Quite simply, we cannot continue to operate in this way.
Already, the impact is being felt. We have had to reduce the number of open beds on our Inpatient Unit from 12 to 8 - a direct result of the funding crisis.
Demand, however, continues to grow. We now have waiting lists, and we know that every day someone waits is a day too many. People living with life-limiting conditions deserve timely, compassionate care in the place of their choice. We remain deeply concerned for those currently unable to access this vital support.
We have raised these concerns formally with our commissioners on behalf of our patients and families. We expect to hear at the end of October what funding we will receive for next year, and we sincerely hope the seriousness of the situation will be recognised.
The public’s response to our appeal has been overwhelmingly kind. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has donated, shared our message, or offered words of support - it really means the world to us.
However, we still face a £600,000 gap to fill before the end of this financial year. Every act of kindness really does make a difference - whether through a donation, regular giving, organising a fundraising event, or simply helping us spread the word.
Our community built this hospice 40 years ago to meet a vital need: expert palliative and end-of-life care for local people. Four decades on, that need is greater than ever - and the need for our community to stand with us remains just as vital. Please, if you can, continue to stand by us and the patients who so desperately need our care.
Despite the challenges, our passion and commitment to providing exceptional care remain unwavering. In this edition of Open House, you’ll find personal stories, updates from our services, and ways to get involved in the months ahead.
We will continue to do everything we can to protect the future of Garden House - in memory of those we’ve cared for, for the patients of today, and for the patients of tomorrow.