TWO things are certain in life: taxes and death. Close to 600,000 people die in the UK annually post-pandemic.

About half pass away at home or in a care home with most of the rest in hospital. Yet about 30,000 people need specialist end-of-life care (nearly 5 per cent of all deaths) and they will receive it in a Hospice.

A much larger number receive palliative care from Hospices deploying staff into the community with more than 80% of the Hospices’ work accounted for this way. This work is delivered in partnership with the NHS.

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Importantly hospices also support the relatives of the dying and dead including children, but they are now hit by a major funding crisis.

This funding shortage is leading to staff cuts and reductions in services.

Governments, both Labour and Conservative, have ignored that hospices rely on a combination of NHS contracts and donations.

Medical inflation is greater than normal inflation, and the rising costs and demands have not overall been met by increasing levels of funding from whatever source.

Palliative care is not a sexy subject, but all of us may require it in some way for ourselves or our loved ones.

However, having experienced end-of-life care abroad and in this country, both through family and friends, my strong belief is that we do not understand what a great service we have here.

A true NHS should provide care from cradle to the grave. With annual deaths predicted to rise by about 130,000 by 2040, the need for end-of-life care will grow. Expecting that this will all be funded through donations is impractical.

We need to cough up more in tax money to support these vital services provided by a hospice - but please carry on donating. Every little bit helps.

Luigi Gregori

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