A HOSPICE which relies to a large extent on the generosity of the public must find another £80,000 during the next year as a result of last month’s budget.

At the annual meeting of St Kentigern Hospice and Palliative Care Centre in St Asaph, chairman Steve Thomas said the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves would present a further challenge at a time when they already faced rising costs.

Chief Executive Jane McGrath said that representatives of hospices throughout Wales were to due meet Health Secretary Jeremy Miles to highlight the issue.

In the year up to April, 2024, 72% of St Kentigern’s £3.4m expenditure was on salaries and wages.

Of the money raised, 7.2% came from donations, 16.7% from legacies, 17.5% from shop sales, 16.7% from grants and only 19.8% from statutory funding.

Whilst donations rose from £203,940 to £249, 424, legacies decreased  by over £250,000 to £578,024.

Income from fundraising events was almost £100,000 more than in 2022-2023 at £234,509 and that from catering was approximately £70,000 up.

Over the last year, over 180 patients were admitted to the inpatient unit and over 200 accessed the outpatient services.

Mrs McGrath said there had been a growing number of patients from outside the normal catchment area of Denbighshire, West Flintshire and East Conwy, a testament to the standard of care and expertise within the hospice.

The chairman paid tribute to Ian Mitchell, the chief executive from 2015 to 2022, who died last week.