Mainland health bosses have made a devastating decision to withdraw around £1.4 million a year in critical funding from Mountbatten Isle of Wight, with around £600,000 being cut from this autumn, without prior warning.

The hospice charity faces a disinvestment of around 40 per cent by 2026/7.

The 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. 

CLICK HERE to sign the Stop the NHS Cash Cuts petition 

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• Read more: Deputy CEO tells Isle of Wight Radio 'NHS cash cuts to Mountbatten Isle of Wight put us 'in jeopardy.'

While your Isle of Wight hospice has been told it will get less cash, a number of hospices in Hampshire are seeing a rise in their allocated funds. Mountbatten Hampshire is not among them.

There is an uncertain future for vital and much-used community services, relied upon by Islanders dealing with death and dying and possible redundancies are now likely at Mountbatten Isle of Wight.

Mountbatten Isle of Wight is asking you to take action to save our hospice as we know it, by writing to NHS commissioners, Healthwatch and our MPS.

Read on for how to do this...

Above: Mountbatten CEO, Nigel Hartley, MBE and incoming CEO, Becky McGregor

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.”

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.”

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How to help save Mountbatten Isle of Wight 

Take action in support of Mountbatten Isle of Wight, now. Contact the following and ask them for support, following this decision to cut Mountbatten Isle of Wight's funding. 

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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. 

'Easy target'

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 that Hampshire and Isle of Wight's 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.”

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