Save a Precious Bed

It’s a question we all want an answer to. National guidance (‘Who Pays’) is clear that the NHS should cover the full cost of the specialist services Ashgate provides. Hospice UK agrees and is calling for this in its four point funding plan. 

However, hospices like ours were set up as charities long before that guidance existed. Over the years, we’ve worked hard to bridge the shortfall ourselves through fundraising and community support. But that model is no longer sustainable. Rising costs and inadequate uplifts from local commissioners mean hospices across the country are now being forced to cut services, with more than two-thirds at significant financial risk. 

This is a national, systemic problem – and it’s why our campaigning is so important. Specialist end of life care is the only type of specialist care that isn’t fully funded. Locally, DDICB could solve our problem with a relatively small uplift in its budget, which would deliver huge value back to the local health system and the patients who depend on us.  

Without it, beds will close, and many of the patients we would have cared for at Ashgate will instead need to be admitted to Chesterfield Royal Hospital – putting even more pressure on NHS services. 

End of life care should be properly funded by the NHS. But right now, we’re directing the generosity and compassion of our community to make the best of a heartbreaking situation. 

It shouldn’t fall to local people to fund essential care, but together we can make a real difference. Every donation helps us care for more patients and the people important to them and shows the strength of a community that refuses to let vital care disappear. 

Specialist hospice care is provided by a highly skilled multidisciplinary team – including doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers and counsellors – who have advanced training in managing complex symptoms and supporting people with very specific needs at the end of life. 

This kind of care can’t usually be provided in other settings, such as care homes or hospitals, because of the specialist expertise and environment required. It’s about giving people the best possible quality of life, comfort and dignity when their needs are most complex. 

We had hoped Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (DDICB), our local NHS commissioners, would provide additional funding to protect jobs, beds and services. Despite our best efforts, this hasn’t happened. Time is running out, and the support from our community has been extraordinary. People have been asking how they can help keep more beds open – and that is exactly what Ashgate’s Save a Precious Bed Appeal responds to. 

The Save a Precious Bed appeal is about channelling that generosity directly into care, where the community has told us they want it to go. While it cannot fully solve our financial challenges and we won’t be able to save all or even most of the beds that we have no choice but to close, it gives us a chance to make a real, immediate difference for patients who need us. We will continue campaigning for fairer funding from the local NHS, but this is an opportunity to protect some of our care. 

This is a restricted fundraising appeal. That means the funds will go directly to keeping two of the nine specialist beds that are due to close open for a further six months. The more we raise, the longer we will be able to keep them open. 

Trying to keep all nine beds open through an appeal would only be possible for a very short time. By focusing on two beds, our community can make a real, lasting impact and we can explore ways to extend this even further. 

We can open two additional beds without compromising on the outstanding quality of care we provide if we can raise enough to fund their direct costs. These include nursing staff, estates, quality and drugs and amount to £668 per bed per day.

The £244,000 we are trying to raise will cover the direct costs of keeping two precious beds open for six months.

The exact number of jobs that will be saved is difficult to say due to part time working patterns and shift rotas. However, we estimate we would be able to keep the equivalent of four full time Registered Nurse posts and three full time Healthcare Assistants on fixed term contracts. 

If we reach our target, the two beds will stay open for another six months instead of closing. If donations go beyond the target, we’ll be able to keep them open for even longer. Sadly, the remaining seven beds will still have to close – something we’re truly heartbroken about. 

If we raise more than our initial target, we can keep the two beds that we have saved open for longer. Every extra donation directly increases the care we can provide to patients who need us most.

The beds will stay open as long as the Save a Precious Bed Appeal funding allows. Without fairer funding from DDICB, they could close once the money we have raised ends. These beds will only be open thanks to the generosity of our community – and a further seven of our precious beds and the jobs associated with them will still be lost. 

The appeal also gives us time to explore ways to extend support through regular giving and other fundraising. While it doesn’t solve the long-term funding challenges, it makes a real difference for patients and those important to them now and helps us continue our campaign for fairer payment from commissioners. 

Yes. Every penny raised through our Save a Precious Bed Appeal will go directly towards keeping the beds open and providing the care the community wants to protect.

Our initial target is £244,000, with milestones along the way. We hope to reach this within the financial year and are confident that the community’s support can make it happen.

We will keep the beds open for as long as donations allow, so every contribution still makes a difference, particularly during the winter months when demand is highest. 

This will depend on the momentum of the appeal but do expect it to last several weeks. We will keep supporters updated as it progresses.

You can select this appeal when donating via our website, or contact our Fundraising team on 01246 567 250 or [email protected] to ensure your efforts are directed to this campaign. 

If you donated via the ‘Act Now’ campaign, your contribution is already supporting this Appeal and helping to keep our precious beds open. We have already raised over £50,000 this way. 

We know this appeal won’t solve the problem of correct levels of funding from the NHS – only fair NHS funding can do that. But by focusing on keeping two beds open for as long as possible, we can make a real difference right now. 

These beds will mean more local people can receive specialist hospice care at the end of their lives instead of being admitted to hospital. And while the appeal runs, we’ll keep exploring ways to extend the funding further through ongoing donations and other fundraising. 

The planned service changes are helping to bring Ashgate back to a financially stable position. This Save a Precious Bed Appeal builds on that by directly funding two beds we would otherwise have to close – safely, responsibly and only for as long as we can afford it.  

The money raised through this appeal won’t replace NHS funding; it’s additional and will go directly towards keeping two hospice beds open for local patients. It is something – but seven of our precious beds will still be closing. 

At the same time, we’re continuing discussions with DDICB to agree a clearer contract and a fairer, more sustainable funding model for the outstanding care that we provide. 

Our long-term goal remains the same: to secure the funding we need so that vital services like ours are properly supported by the NHS, not dependent on fundraising alone, as important as that is to Ashgate. 

We’ve looked at every option to reduce costs, from pausing recruitment to cutting back on non-essential spending. Despite this work, it’s clear that those savings just aren’t enough. The services we’re proposing to stop or reduce are ones the NHS isn’t funding, so they’re the areas where we’ve had to focus. 

That’s why this appeal is so important. Every donation will directly help keep two of our specialist beds open for longer, giving more people the chance to receive the specialist care they deserve. 

You can also read more about how we carefully manage our finances on our website.  

Every part of Ashgate’s care matters. From our Inpatient Unit to counselling and support for families, each service plays a vital role. 

This appeal focuses on beds because that’s what our community has told us they most want to protect. It’s about channelling that kindness and generosity into something immediate for the people who need us. 

Keeping two of our specialist beds open for six months means around 25 more of the most unwell patients will be able to receive our expert care and support, surrounded by the people important to them. 

That’s 25 people with complex needs who can be cared for with comfort and dignity here at Ashgate, rather than needing to be admitted to hospital. And if donations exceed the target, we’ll be able to extend this care even further and reach even more patients. 

Every penny raised through our Save a Precious Bed Appeal will go directly towards keeping the two inpatient beds open. The funds are restricted for this purpose, so supporters can be confident that their donations are being used exactly as promised. We are only able to spend the money in this way. 

Every donation will be used to keep the beds open and to provide specialist care to local people who need us most. 

Ideally, these services would be fully funded by the NHS. But right now, the generosity of our community allows us to make a real difference where we’re needed most. By supporting our Save a Precious Bed Appeal, local people are helping us care for more patients with dignity and compassion – and showing the strength of a community that refuses to let vital care disappear. 

You can make a donation online via the Ashgate Hospice website, by phone on 01246 567 250, by post to Ashgate Hospice, Ashgate Rd, Ashgate, Old Brampton, Chesterfield S42 7JD, or in person at our Fundraising Centre in Hasland or at any of our retail shops. Donations can be one-off gifts or regular contributions, and if you’re eligible, adding Gift Aid increases the value of your donation at no extra cost to you. 

Yes! Donations can be made at any of our shops. You can find your nearest location on our website. 

Our Fundraising team would love to help. You can get in touch on 01246 567 250 or email [email protected] for advice, resources, and ideas.

Businesses and workplaces can make a direct donation to the appeal, join our Business Club for a minimum of £30 a month to support the hospice, or choose Ashgate Hospice as their Charity of the Year and fundraise throughout the year. Every bit of support helps us care for more patients and those important to them.