Marie Curie highlights £5 million NHS funding gap

Marie Curie, the UK's leading end of life charity, has published its 2024/25 Annual Report, warning of severe pressures on hospice and palliative care.

With an ageing population and five million more people expected to need palliative care over the next decade, the charity says urgent reform is vital or more people—especially those from poorer and disadvantaged communities—will die in crisis, having been admitted in an emergency in hospital, in overwhelming pain, and dying alone with no friends or family present.

Marie Curie services currently reach only 6% of people at the end of life, with access varying by location, time of day, and place of care. The charity is determined to address this by developing new services and partnerships to bridge the gap in end of life care.

This year Marie Curie introduced 20 new services in 24/25, providing more Enhanced (specialist) Hospice Care at Home as well as working with GP practices, emergency departments and hospitals to identify and support those who fall through the cracks in palliative and end of life care.

Across the sector, rising costs and insufficient NHS funding are straining services, and Marie Curie is not immune. In 24/25 twenty-three Hospice Care at Home services were withdrawn due to funding shortfalls and local NHS commissioning changes.

NHS funding covered just 34% of Marie Curie hospice costs, down from 39% the previous year, and only 47% of Hospice Care at Home, down from 48%, representing a drop of £4.9m.

Matthew Reed, Marie Curie Chief Executive, said:
"We are at a critical moment in end of life care - a moment that will define how we care for those in their final days now and for generations to come. Right now, far too many people find themselves desperately dialling 999 or spending their last moments in hospital, not because they want to, but because they simply can't access the right care when they need it, especially outside working hours when support is most lacking. This cannot be allowed to continue.

"We're not standing still. We are creating new, innovative services to support the NHS and reach those who are most vulnerable and overlooked. Our resolve to deliver more care – when and where it matters most to people - has never been stronger. But we cannot fix this alone.

"We welcome the UK Government's commitment to produce a Palliative and End of Life Care Modern Services Framework for England – a vital step forward. Promises now need to become action. We stand ready to work with all governments, the NHS and system partners to transform care for those at the end of life, ensuring it is fully funded and properly resourced at every stage.

"Every person, no matter who they are or where they live, deserves compassionate, high-quality, dignified care and support as they approach the end of their lives. Without change, more people will die alone, in pain, and in crisis."

Despite the financial climate, Marie Curie demonstrated strong resilience and delivered income growth of 7% to £181.1 million, with fundraising increasing to 18% to £110.4 million—driven by gifts in wills, strong corporate partnerships (including record-breaking results with long-standing partner Superdrug and a new partnership with Morrisons), and robust regular and direct giving. The charity is also the TCS London Marathon 2026 charity of the year.

During 24/25 Marie Curie has reduced its planned deficit from £25m to £7m through its ongoing focus on reducing the running costs of the organisation. While the charity is committed to restoring financial balance in 2027, it is also committed to using its reserves to invest in more new service innovation – such as embedding Marie Curie nurses and healthcare professionals into GP surgeries, A&E, and hospitals as well as expanding its volunteer companion services that support people at the end of life and their loved ones at home, in hospital, and over the phone.

Marie Curie is the largest charity provider of palliative end of life care and biggest charity funder of research on dying, death and bereavement in the UK.

ENDS

https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/document/annual-report-and-accounts-2024-2025