Dear Editor,

The article 'hospice charity under threat' on Wednesday, October 15th, fails to explain the way that hospices have been funded to date, and the plan for future funding that was approved by the Minister. My report to the Minister outlines a template for Wales to establish the fair distribution of services across Wales. It is important that the NHS funding to hospices is on a steady footing and the expectations of each service are clearly laid out, rather than a stop-start that has occurred in previous years with the annual round of competitive bids for money.

The funding is calculated on the services that the NHS would have to provide to meet the standards required by NICE, if the voluntary sector providers were not in place. The voluntary sector has always wanted to guard its independence, to be able to rapidly respond to local requirements, and can fund extra services over and above the core.

The top-up funding allocated to Paul Sartori takes account of the money they receive from the local health board (£90,000 this year), and allows for the hospice at home service that they provide. There is no intention to transfer this service to another provider, unless Paul Sartori wishes to do so or is unable to meet standards required for patient care. It is disappointing that the article fails to refer to the way that the funding to each unit has been allocated; funding takes into account the local health board funding each service receives and provides additional top-up money from the Assembly. The aim is to achieve a high standard of care at the end of life wherever someone is in Wales, whether it is at home, hospital or a hospice. Professor the Baroness Finlay of Llandaff