Mountbatten Isle of Wight say that Mainland health bosses have “made a devastating decision to withdraw around £1.4 million a year in critical funding from with around £600,000 being cut from this autumn, without prior warning”.
The hospice charity say they face a disinvestment of around 40 per cent by 2026/7.
Reallocation of funding
Mountbatten say Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) has announced a ‘reallocation of system funding for hospices’.
For over a decade, Mountbatten Isle of Wight has received around a third of its money from the ICB, which distributes NHS funding to healthcare services on the Island.
Why the cut in funding?
OnTheWight got in touch with the Integrated Care Board to ask why the funding was being removed.
The Head of Programme – Local Care, at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight said,
“The Isle of Wight Mountbatten Contract is due expire at the end of October and with due respect, they have been aware of this position for some time.”
ICB’s “equitable funding framework”
OnTheWight asked why the contract was not being renewed, a representative replied,
“We are offering a new contract, however, the ICB equitable funding framework for hospices, means that for Mountbatten this is at a lower contract value than previously.”
A spokesperson for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight also told OnTheWight,
“We have a duty to ensure fair, equitable funding for all hospices across Hampshire and Isle of Wight, and we are exploring ways to support Mountbatten Isle of Wight going forward and discussions will continue with the hospice.
“We are committed to ensuring that more care is provided in the community close to where people live. We see hospices and end of life care services as a core part of this which will also create new opportunities for the sector.”
Islanders losing out
A spokesperson for Mountbatten Isle of Wight responded to that statement by saying,
“Mountbatten Isle of Wight knew its existing contract was due to end in the Autumn. That has been replaced with a new contract — one that will be worth 40 per cent less by 2026/7. Where has the money gone?
“The ICB is making significant and severe cuts, which we learned about in a letter last week. The letter says the ICB is making funding ‘equitable across the Hampshire and Isle of Wight system’ which has resulted in ‘a reallocation of system funding’. It has admitted this approach ‘does have implications for Mountbatten’.
“Some hospices in Hampshire — under the same ICB — are seeing a rise in their allocated funding. Mountbatten Isle of Wight is the only hospice we know of to be seeing a reduction in its funds — and it is a devastating reduction.
“What we fear is that Mountbatten Isle of Wight’s funding has been reallocated — with Islanders losing out. We would like clarification from the ICB on this.
“Services on the Island are already stretched, including those currently delivered by Mountbatten. We have asked the ICB how it will ensure the growing number of Islanders needing hospice care will be supported, after this Autumn. It has yet to respond.
“For four decades, Mountbatten Isle of Wight has remained the only viable provider of end-of-life care on the Island. It is still the NHS’s preferred provider for specialist and vital end-of-life care. We are not aware of plans for any new Island-based hospice care providers.
“Commissioners must have known well in advance that cuts to services (already two-thirds funded by our community) were inevitable. This will mean untold suffering to people at the most vulnerable times of their lives. Funding cuts were not discussed in advance with Mountbatten.”
Quigley: It’s within Hants and IW ICB’s power to reverse decision
Richard Quigley, Labour MP for Isle of Wight West, told OnTheWight,
“I have written to the ICB , expressing my concerns and disappointment with their decision to reduce funding to Mountbatten.
“This is a decision made entirely by the Hants and IW ICB and it is within their power to reverse it.
“The hospice provides and excellent service and is 70% funded by donations.
“The ICB need to understand the knock in affects to the hospital if funding and therefore services Earl Mountbatten can offer are reduced.”
Robertson: I have demanded an urgent meeting
Joe Robertson, Conservative Isle of Wight East MP, told OnTheWight,
“I am appalled that the Integrated Care Board has decided to pull money from the Island in order to support Hampshire.
“I have written to the ICB demanding an urgent meeting so that they can explain why they think it’s OK to inflict savage cuts to hospice services here, where the population is older, poorer and with higher frailty, and redistribute the money to places with less substantial need on the mainland.
“I have met with the Hospice management in person and will fight this decision which is not a done deal yet.”
No rise for Mountbatten Hampshire
While the Island’s hospice has been told it will get less cash, they say a number of hospices in Hampshire are seeing a rise in their allocated funds. Although Mountbatten Hampshire is not among them.
The ending of the NHS contract and future funding has created an uncertain future for vital and much-used community services, relied upon by Islanders dealing with death and dying and Mountbatten Isle of Wight say that possible redundancies are now likely.
Take action to save our hospice
Mountbatten Isle of Wight is asking people on the Isle of Wight to take action to save the hospice as we know it, by writing to NHS commissioners, Healthwatch and our MPS.
Becky McGregor, incoming Mountbatten CEO, said,
“The NHS commissioners’ hugely disappointing decision — amounting to funding cuts — has been made without direct meaningful consultation, engagement or negotiation with Mountbatten.
“It is one that will have a wide-ranging and significant impact on Islanders.”
Cheshire: A huge blow to our charity
The changes will hit the charity’s finances from this autumn, when Mountbatten Isle of Wight’s current contract with the NHS ends.
Chair of Trustees, Sir Ian Cheshire, said,
“Cutting funding to Mountbatten Isle of Wight will adversely affect the Islanders who need us and the services they rely on. It is a huge blow to our charity, which leads the way in end-of-life care.
“We demand Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS commissioners reconsider their appalling decision.”
A sustainable and inexpensive model of hospice care
Mountbatten Isle of Wight provides a sustainable and inexpensive model of hospice care — replicated by many other hospices across the UK. The organisation has received a number of national awards for its pioneering work.
The money Mountbatten Isle of Wight has received from the ICB has always been in line with average NHS hospice funding in England.
Meanwhile, two-thirds of the money the charity needs to operate comes from the Island’s community, through donations, gifts in wills, grants, fundraising and dedicated charity shops.
Hartley: The NHS has always ignored the dying
Retiring CEO, Nigel Hartley, MBE, said,
“The NHS has always ignored the dying. People who are at the most vulnerable times of their lives are an easy target for disinvestment. That is why hospices were established in the first place.
“I have long since warned that hospice care, as we know it, is dying. How we care for the most vulnerable people in our society is at the heart of who we are and, it seems clear to me, Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB is intent on destroying this.
“This will lead to devastating loss — both in vital services for Islanders facing death and dying, along with their family, friends and carers, and in the potential employment for some of our incredible Mountbatten staff.”
Write to the ICB, Healthwatch and your MP
Mountbatten Isle of Wight ask residents to take action in support now.
They suggest contacting the following and ask them for support, following this decision to cut Mountbatten Isle of Wight’s funding.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board
Write to: Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB Board, Omega House, 112 Southampton Road, Eastleigh, SO50 5PB
Email: [email protected]
Healthwatch Isle of Wight
Write to: Freepost RTGR-BKRU-KUEL, Healthwatch Isle of Wight, The Riverside Centre, The Quay, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2QR
Email: [email protected]
Richard Quigley, MP for Isle of Wight West
Email:[email protected]
Joe Robertson – MP for Isle of Wight East
Email: [email protected]
Article edit
9.30am 2nd Jun 2025 – RQ comment added
11.40am 2nd Jun 2025 – JR comment added
