Southport Communities Urged to Back Queenscourt Hospice Funding Petition 2026

Key Points

• MP for Southport, Patrick Hurley, is backing a petition demanding that the Government fund specialist palliative care in hospices.
• The petition is aimed at addressing the financial challenges that Queenscourt Hospice and other non-profit making hospice care providers are facing.
• Queenscourt Hospice offers care and support to individuals and families living in Southport, Formby, and West Lancashire.
• People have been encouraged to sign the petition to push for a better funding arrangement for hospices.
• The main emphasis of this petition is the gap between the costs incurred in delivering such care and the publicly available funding.
• Queenscourt Hospice relies on fundraising activities, donations, charity shops, volunteering, and other community support to be able to run its operations.
• This petition will increase the pressure on the government ministers to reassess their funding arrangements for hospices.
• Among the individuals and families affected in this matter are those from local areas.

Southport (Liverpool standard) August 19, 2026 – Stand Up For Southport has reported that Southport MP Patrick Hurley is urging local people to sign a petition calling on the Government to fully fund specialist palliative care delivered by hospices. The report, dated 2026, says the petition forms part of a campaign for fairer funding for Queenscourt Hospice and other hospice providers.

The campaign centres on the financial gap between the cost of providing specialist palliative and end-of-life care and the level of statutory funding available to charitable hospices. Queenscourt is required to raise money from the public to help fund its work, despite providing highly specialised care for patients and support for their families.

The petition is intended to demonstrate public support for a change in the current funding system. By encouraging residents to sign, Mr Hurley is seeking to show ministers that hospice funding is a significant concern in Southport and the surrounding communities.

The report published by Stand Up For Southport does not identify the author of the article in the material available. Accordingly, references to the report are attributed to Stand Up For Southport rather than to a named journalist.

What does the petition call for?

The petition calls for the Government to fully fund specialist palliative care provided by hospices. This would represent a substantial change from the existing model, in which charitable organisations commonly combine public funding with donations and fundraising income to meet the cost of delivering services.

The campaign argues that hospices deliver an essential part of the health and care system. Their work can include specialist nursing, symptom management, emotional support, family assistance and care for people approaching the end of life. The petition’s central argument is that services providing this level of specialist care should not have to depend so heavily on charitable fundraising to remain available.

As reported by Stand Up For Southport, Mr Hurley is asking people in the constituency to support the petition. The appeal is particularly relevant to residents who have used Queenscourt’s services, have supported the hospice through fundraising or charity shops, or may need specialist palliative care in the future.

The campaign does not suggest that fundraising is unimportant. Instead, it highlights the concern that donations and community activities should supplement public funding rather than carry a large share of the core cost of specialist care.

How does Queenscourt support local families?

Queenscourt Hospice provides care and support for people living in Southport, Formby and West Lancashire. Its services are intended not only for patients but also for relatives and carers who may need advice, practical help or emotional support.

Hospice care can be delivered in different settings, including a hospice building, a patient’s home or through community-based services. The precise services available can vary according to clinical need and the resources of the provider.

Queenscourt has a long-standing presence in the local community. Its work is supported by donations, fundraising events, volunteers and charity shops. These activities help generate income while also allowing local residents to participate directly in supporting hospice care.

Stand Up For Southport has previously reported on Queenscourt’s community fundraising work, including the hospice’s charity shops and events designed to raise money for patient and family services. The publication has also described the hospice as providing care throughout the year for residents in the area.

The funding petition places that community support within a wider national debate. Although local fundraising remains important, the campaign argues that the level of responsibility placed on charitable hospices needs to be reconsidered.

Why is hospice funding a local concern?

Hospice funding is a local concern because the availability of specialist palliative care affects patients and families within the communities served by each provider. When a hospice faces financial pressure, it may need to raise more money, reduce expenditure, delay investment or reconsider how services are delivered.

For patients and relatives, continuity of care is particularly important. People receiving palliative or end-of-life care may have complex medical, emotional and practical needs. Families may also require support to understand care options and manage the effects of a serious or terminal illness.

Queenscourt’s services depend on the organisation having enough income to recruit and retain staff, maintain facilities, provide clinical support and operate community services. The petition’s supporters believe these responsibilities should be backed by a funding arrangement that reflects the essential nature of the care.

The campaign also raises questions about consistency. Hospices across the country may face different levels of public funding, while their ability to generate donations can vary depending on local income levels, fundraising capacity and the size of the communities they serve.

A hospice in an area with strong community fundraising may be able to bridge part of its funding gap. However, reliance on donations can create uncertainty and may place additional pressure on staff, volunteers, patients’ families and local supporters.

What has Patrick Hurley said about the campaign?

The Stand Up For Southport report says Patrick Hurley is urging people to sign the petition. The article identifies him as the Southport MP and presents his support as an appeal for stronger Government backing for specialist palliative care.

The available report does not provide a full verbatim statement from Mr Hurley, nor does it include a detailed response from a Government department. It would therefore be inaccurate to attribute additional comments or policy commitments to him without a further published source.

His support is significant locally because Southport residents are among the people who may rely on Queenscourt’s services. An MP’s involvement can help bring a community campaign to the attention of Parliament and national decision-makers.

However, signing the petition does not itself guarantee a change in funding. Any change would require the Government to assess the financial implications, consult hospice providers and determine how specialist palliative care should be funded across the country.

How are hospices currently supported?

Hospices generally operate through a mixture of income sources. These can include NHS or local public funding, charitable donations, regular giving, fundraising events, grants, charity shops and gifts left in wills.

The balance between those sources differs from one organisation to another. A hospice may receive public money for particular services while raising additional funds to cover other costs. This can leave providers exposed when wages, energy bills, medicines, transport and building maintenance become more expensive.

Community fundraising is often central to a hospice’s identity. Local people may take part in sponsored activities, donate goods, volunteer in shops or contribute through regular payments. Businesses may also organise fundraising campaigns or provide sponsorship.

The campaign backed by Mr Hurley argues that this goodwill should not be used to justify inadequate core funding. Its aim is to secure a system in which specialist palliative care receives sufficient public support, while charitable fundraising can continue to improve services and support additional projects.

What would fairer hospice funding mean for Queenscourt?

Fairer funding could give Queenscourt greater financial stability and make it easier to plan services over the longer term. More predictable support could help the organisation manage staffing, clinical provision and community-based care without depending on emergency fundraising appeals to meet essential costs.

It could also reduce the financial pressure on volunteers and supporters. Queenscourt would still be able to benefit from local donations and fundraising, but those contributions could potentially be directed towards improvements, equipment, family services or additional patient support.

The precise meaning of “fairer funding” will depend on the Government’s eventual policy response. The petition calls for full funding of specialist palliative care, but the report does not set out a detailed funding formula, timetable or proposed mechanism.

That distinction is important. A change in principle would need to be followed by practical decisions about eligibility, accountability, workforce planning and the division of responsibilities between the NHS, local authorities and charitable hospice providers.

What happens next with the petition?

The immediate next step is for residents and supporters to sign the petition. The campaign’s organisers will then use the level of support to demonstrate public concern and press for a response from the Government.

The strength of the campaign could depend on the number of signatures, the response from other MPs, and whether hospice organisations and national charities coordinate their lobbying efforts. Public attention may also increase if families, clinicians and volunteers share their experiences of hospice care.

No Government funding decision is reported in the source article. There is also no indication in the available material that ministers have accepted the petition’s demand or announced a timetable for reform.

Any future announcement would need to be assessed against the campaign’s central demand: whether hospices receive enough public funding to provide specialist palliative care without placing disproportionate responsibility on charitable fundraising.

Background: Queenscourt Hospice and its community role

Queenscourt Hospice serves communities in Southport, Formby and West Lancashire. The organisation provides specialist support for people with advanced, progressive and incurable illnesses, as well as assistance for families and carers.

The hospice is supported by a broad network of local residents, volunteers, donors and businesses. Its charity shops and fundraising events are among the ways the community helps generate income for its work.

Stand Up For Southport has previously reported on Queenscourt initiatives, including the “This Is Hospice Care” campaign facilitated by Hospice UK. In a February 2025 report, the publication said Queenscourt was among more than 143 hospices taking part in the national campaign, which sought to raise awareness of hospice services and challenge public perceptions of hospice care.

The publication has also reported on Queenscourt fundraising events and charity shop activity, describing the organisation’s role in caring for families across the local area. Those reports illustrate the extent to which the hospice’s services are linked to community participation and charitable support.

Patrick Hurley became Southport’s first Labour MP at the 2024 General Election, according to an earlier Stand Up For Southport report. The publication said he received 17,252 votes, while Conservative candidate Damien Moore received 11,463.

Prediction: How could the campaign affect Southport residents?

The campaign is likely to increase local awareness of the financial pressures facing Queenscourt and may encourage more residents to sign the petition, donate or support hospice fundraising. Families who have received care from Queenscourt may be especially motivated to participate.

If the petition attracts substantial support, it could strengthen Mr Hurley’s case for raising the matter with ministers and parliamentary colleagues. It may also contribute to wider pressure on the Government to examine the funding arrangements used by hospices across England.

In the short term, however, Queenscourt is likely to remain dependent on its existing mix of public support and charitable income unless a formal funding change is announced. Residents should therefore expect fundraising, volunteering and donations to continue playing an important role.

The longer-term effect will depend on the Government’s response, the evidence presented by hospice organisations and the level of cross-party support. A successful campaign could lead to more predictable funding for specialist palliative care, while limited Government action would leave Queenscourt and other hospices reliant on community fundraising to maintain their services.