A public Q&A session due to take place on Monday (17th February) at Mountbatten has been postponed.
However, the Island’s hospice is still encouraging Islanders to take part in its ongoing public engagement exercise, Your Thoughts Count.
A high response rate
A spokesperson for Mountbatten explained the reason behind the postponement, saying,
“We have been receiving questionnaires apace, so we have decided to postpone the Q&A which was due to happen on Monday.”
Mountbatten is gathering feedback to build a clearer picture of the key role it plays on the Isle of Wight and to understand which services matter most to the community.
Islanders are being asked to share their experiences, stories, and opinions to help shape the charity’s future. A questionnaire is available online for those who wish to take part.
Facing financial challenges
Like many hospices across the country, Mountbatten is facing increasingly challenging financial conditions.
Every year, it costs £10.5 million to provide 24/7 end-of-life and palliative care services across the Island, both in people’s homes and at the hospice itself.
Two-thirds of this funding comes from fundraising efforts, while one-third is awarded by NHS commissioners.
However, this NHS funding has not increased to cover rising costs, including NHS pay awards and Employer National Insurance contributions.
There is also uncertainty over whether such funding will continue in future.
Government funding uncertainty
Meanwhile, there has been no detailed information following a recent government announcement that £100 million will be shared among around 200 hospices over two years.
It is understood that this funding will be allocated for capital expenses such as building work, rather than staffing costs.
Islanders who want to support Mountbatten and have their say on its future services can take part in the Your Thoughts Count initiative by completing the online questionnaire available on the hospice’s website.
