The UK's leading end of life charity has today announced that its overnight nursing service in Ipswich & Suffolk is set to end, following NHS funding cuts.
Marie Curie has been notified by the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB) that the grant - which helps fund the charity's overnight specialist palliative nursing care service across Ipswich and Suffolk - will no longer be available from 31 March 2026. Without this ongoing financial support, the charity says it will be unable to continue delivering its expert care in the region.
The current service - which sees Marie Curie Nurses and Healthcare Assistants deliver specialist overnight end of life care and support to people in the comfort of their own homes - supported 470 patients and delivered 15,385 hours of vital care in the last financial year (24/25) alone.
Local charity leaders are currently consulting with the Marie Curie staff affected and are also speaking with the NHS SNEE ICB – who are responsible for commissioning and funding local services – to ensure patient care is not affected when the service ends.
This news comes as new Marie Curie research shows that almost one in three people in England are dying without the care they need.
Julie Quinn, Associate Director Strategic Partnerships and Services at Marie Curie for East of England, said: "It is deeply disappointing that such a vital and long-standing, end of life service will no longer be available to the people of Ipswich and Suffolk.
"There is only one chance to get end of life care right. Our Marie Curie Nurses and Healthcare Assistants provide crucial expert care through the night, ensuring people die with dignity and families are supported when it matters most.
"We understand the financial pressures facing the NHS, but end of life care must be properly funded. Charities like Marie Curie cannot, and should not, be expected to deliver care commissioned by the NHS without NHS funding support.
"Integrated Care Boards are responsible for commissioning services that meet local need and without long-term funding support, more and more people will lose access to essential care."
The charity says it will continue to press the UK Government and ICBs to increase investment in palliative and end of life care, so everyone can access high-quality support when and wherever they need it - regardless of their illness, background or postcode.
Marie Curie is inviting the public to support its Fix End of Life Care campaign and show the government how crucial change is. Visit mariecurie.org.uk
The charity's free support line (0800 090 2309) and online resources are available to anyone in Ipswich and Suffolk and across the country who need a listening ear and require information and support relating to terminal illness, dying, death and bereavement.