The results from hospices for the first quarter of the 2026/27 year, as produced by Hospice UK in conjunction with db associates, show that the underlying financial situation for the sector remains very challenging.

The 105 participating hospices reported a combined deficit of £16 million, an improvement on the £25 million they recorded in the same quarter last year.

However, this headline masks a more concerning picture. More hospices are in deficit, and the improved aggregate result is largely driven by exceptional, one-off performances at just a couple of them. Of the 105 hospices, 80 (76%) recorded a deficit, compared with 77 in the same quarter last year.

To account for differences in hospice size, performance can also be measured as surplus or deficit as a proportion of expenditure. On this measure, 53 hospices (just over half) reported deficits exceeding 10% of expenditure, up sharply from about a third in the first quarter of last year. For many, the situation is becoming more acute.

Will the forthcoming Budget and the long-awaited Modern Service Framework for Palliative and End of Life Care, due this autumn, bring some positive news?

Let's hope so.