Hospice Care Week 2025: Speak up for hospice care by writing to your local MP

In two steps: Write to your MP and support the future of hospice care

On the wards, in the community, and in people’s homes across the UK, hospices look after people who are approaching the end of life day in, day out. But their services are under threat like never before. Will you ask your MP to help?

1. Find your local MP

Use the UK Parliament website to find your local MP and their email address.

St Nicholas Hospice Care supports people in areas represented by these local MPs.

• South Suffolk: James Cartlidge  (james.cartlidge.mp@parliament.uk)
• South West Norfolk: Terry Jermy (terry.jermy.mp@parliament.uk)
• West Suffolk: Nick Timothy (nick.timothy.mp@parliament.uk)
• Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket: Peter Prinsley (peter.prinsley.mp@parliament.uk)

2. Copy and paste: You can add your words to make it your message

Dear (insert name of your local MP), 

I am writing as your constituent and a supporter of St Nicholas Hospice Care to ask you to attend a special parliamentary drop-in event in Westminster on Wednesday, 15 October, hosted by Hospice UK, to celebrate Hospice Care Week. 

This year’s theme is “hospice care is more than you think”. To bring this to life, Hospice UK will be reimagining a Hospice at Home in Parliament, offering a unique insight into the care hospices provide in people’s homes and communities every day. 

I understand St Nicholas Hospice Care is proud to be part of a movement that delivers personalised, compassionate care, helping people stay at home, surrounded by the people and things they love most. Their teams work tirelessly, not only on the ward but also in the community and in people’s homes, supporting those who need palliative and end of life care day in, day out. 

However, the reality is that rising costs and an unsustainable funding model mean many hospices are being forced to cut back services, despite growing demand.  

At St Nicholas Hospice Care, it costs around £9.5 million a year to run the Hospice, with a daily funding gap of over £18,000, even after NHS and ICB support. I understand that only 36% of their income comes from statutory sources, so fundraising, income from the shops, and legacies are critical to sustaining their services. 

With fair funding from government, hospices like St Nicholas can maintain and expand their services, supporting the ambition laid out in the Ten Year Plan for Health to provide more care, closer to home – just what people like me and my family want.  

Last year, St Nicholas Hospice Care joined Hospice UK in campaigning for better funding, and thanks to this, they have been able to develop new services and support more people in our community. 

I would be hugely grateful if, as my local MP, you could drop-in to Parliament’s Hospice at Home on Wednesday 15 October, 10am-3pm in the Jubilee Room. Please join Hospice UK and St Nicholas Hospice Care in celebrating the breadth of support hospices offer, and in calling for the fair funding that will secure the future of these vital services. 

To RSVP or for more information, please email policy@hospiceuk.org. 

Thank you for your support. 

(Name)  

(insert your postcode)