Prospect Hospice is making increasingly urgent pleas for help to tackle a funding crisis which puts the future of the healthcare hub at risk.

The Wroughton-based charity is facing a critical financial shortfall which threatens the independent specialist end-of-life care they currently provide.

Rising costs and stagnant government funding have left Prospect Hospice £1 million short of what is needed this year.

Charlotte Forrest, the new director of income generation, said: “The gap in our funding is a serious threat to the vital services we provide.

“We urgently need the support of our community to continue offering the high level of care and support that our patients and their families rely on.

“Since I joined the team here in February, I’ve been blown away by the determination and generosity of our supporters, patients, their families, and our community.

“Last year, Prospect Hospice cared for more than 2,000 patients completely free of charge. The truth is, we simply couldn’t do that without support from the public.”

With prices rising rapidly and more people than ever needing care, the charity is urging the community to help bridge the financial gap.

The hospice highlighted the support they gave to Sinéad Nolan-Martin and Harry Martin as a recent example of the important service the staff provide.

Sinéad said: “Harry was a rare case – he was just 25. His cancer caused paralysis, so from the beginning, the hospice’s physio team was involved. Their ability to adapt and tailor the service was incredible.

“They came to our house and provided a positive focus for him every day, giving us structure, routine, and hope during a devastating time. I don’t know how we’d have managed without them.”

Sinead continues to advocate and fundraise for the hospice, understanding deeply the devastating consequences of service cuts.

She added: "It's my worst fear because I know how much our family depended on Prospect.”

People can support the hospice by giving a one-off donation or setting up a regular monthly payment.

For example, £25 could pay for an hour of support from a nurse, giving family and friends a much-needed break from caring for their loved one.

Or £60 could pay for an hour’s stay on our inpatient unit, for a patient and their family, so they can enjoy their final hours together, while £100 could pay for a series of specialist physio sessions for a patient like Harry.

For more information, visit www.prospect-hospice.net/helpourhospice