Record £75m boost for hospices- full list of sites and how much funding they'll get
Hospices will get a £75 million boost - the largest cash injection ever - for building upgrades to ensure patients get the most.
More than 170 hospices across England will receive a share of the funding - which will go towards building separate family rooms, adding solar panels to reduce energy costs and communal lounges.
Among the hospices to get cash will be Wigan and Leigh, which Health Minister Stephen Kinnock visited this week.
It will use the additional funding to replace its heating system – helping create a better, more comfortable environment for patients and enabling staff to deliver higher quality care.
"Hospices play a vital role in our society by providing invaluable care and support when people need it most,' said Mr Kinnock.
'At this most difficult time, people deserve to receive the best care in the best possible environment with dignity.
'I've seen first-hand how our funding is already making a real difference to improving facilities for patients and families. This additional funding will deliver further upgrades, relieving pressure on day-to-day spending.
'End-of-life care is crucial to our 10 Year Health Plan and our fundamental shift of moving more care out of hospital and into the community. We will continue to support hospices so they can deliver their vital work.'
Toby Porter, the CEO of Hospice UK, said: "The announcement in late 2024 of £100 million in capital funding for hospices was welcome recognition from the government of the immense pressure facing hospices, and their urgent need for more financial support.
"We were pleased to distribute the first £25 million of this funding early in March. We know this money has made a huge difference to hospices and the next £75 million will continue to help them invest in their buildings, facilities, and digital infrastructure.
"While this one-off investment has been very welcome, it's critical that we continue to work with government to secure long-term reform to ensure hospice care is there for everyone who needs it, whoever and wherever they are.
"The government has just emphasised the importance of hospices in their 10 Year Plan for the NHS and the role they can play in shifting care from hospitals into the community. With the right support, there is so much more they can do to realise the vision set out in the 10 Year Plan. We look forward to working with government to make this a reality."
And Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of Marie Curie said: "Marie Curie welcome this grant funding, which we will be investing in helping to ensure people living with terminal illness are well cared for across England - whether in our hospice buildings, or in their own homes through improvements in use of digital technology
'We look forward to working with the Government to ensure longer-term funding is put in place to ensure the best possible palliative care is sustainably available for everyone who needs it, including in their new neighbourhood health centres in the most deprived communities.'
Hospices receiving funding in full
Children
England
West Midlands
906,009
Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service (MAIDENHEAD)
England
South Central
143,868
Alice House Hospice (HARTLEPOOL)
Adults
England
North East
182,598
Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (CAMBRIDGE)
Adults
England
East Of England
706,038
Ashgate Hospicecare (Chesterfield)
Adults
England
East Midlands
633,770
Barnsley Hospice (Barnsley)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
240,117
Bassetlaw Hospice of the Good Shepherd
Adults
England
East Midlands
21,822
Beaumond House Hospice Care (NEWARK)
Adults
England
East Midlands
98,556
The Hospice Charity Partnership (BIRMINGHAM)
Adults
England
West Midlands
1,113,392
Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice (Sheffield)
Children
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
221,517
Blythe House Hospice (High Peak)
Adults
England
East Midlands
119,874
Bolton Hospice (Bolton)
Adults
England
North West
321,556
Bury Hospice (Bury)
Adults
England
North West
185,022
Butterfly Hospice
Adults
England
East Midlands
36,645
Butterwick Hospice Care (Stockton-on-Tees)
Both
England
North East
181,126
Campden Home Nursing CIO (CHIPPING CAMPDEN)
Adults
England
South West
69,180
Children's Hospice South West (Barnstaple)
Children
England
South West
814,983
Claire House Children's Hospice (BEBINGTON)
Children
England
North West
513,514
Compton Care (Wolverhampton)
Adults
England
West Midlands
647,697
Cornwall Hospice Care (ST. AUSTELL)
Adults
England
South West
482,954
Demelza Hospice Care for Children - Demelza Kent (Sittingbourne)
Children
England
South East Coast
726,405
Derian House Children's Hospice (Chorley)
Children
England
North West
345,812
Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation - Willow Burn Hospice (Lanchester)
Adults
England
North East
71,909
Dorothy House Hospice Care (BRADFORD-ON-AVON)
Adults
England
South West
886,978
Douglas Macmillan Hospice (Stoke-on-trent)
Both
England
West Midlands
985,433
Dove Cottage Day Hospice (Melton Mowbray)
Adults
England
East Midlands
27,927
Dove House Hospice (HULL)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
332,097
Dr Kershaw's Hospice (Oldham)
Adults
England
North West
277,090
East Anglia's Children's Hospices (Cambridge)
Children
England
East Of England
657,927
East Cheshire Hospice (Macclesfield)
Adults
England
North West
388,471
East Lancashire Hospice (Blackburn)
Adults
England
North West
256,539
Eden Valley Hospice (Carlisle)
Both
England
North West
276,661
Ellenor (Northfleet)
Both
England
South East Coast
404,132
Farleigh Hospice (Chelmsford)
Adults
England
East Of England
804,804
Forget Me Not Children's Hospice (Huddersfield)
Children
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
225,696
Francis House Children's Hospice (MANCHESTER)
Children
England
North West
456,213
Garden House Hospice (LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY)
Adults
England
East Of England
369,785
Great Oaks Hospice (Coleford)
Adults
England
South West
74,748
Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice (LONDON)
Adults
England
London
692,418
Halton Haven Hospice (Runcorn)
Adults
England
North West
166,182
Harlington Hospice Association (KINGS LANGLEY)
Adults
England
London
346,552
Haven House Children's Hospice (WOODFORD GREEN)
Children
England
London
265,338
Havens Hospices (Southend on Sea)
Both
England
East Of England
783,256
Heart of Kent Hospice (Maidstone)
Adults
England
South East Coast
288,828
Helen and Douglas House Hospice Care for Children and Young Adults (OXFORD)
Children
England
South Central
492,205
Hope House Childrens Hospice (OSWESTRY)
Children
England
West Midlands
434,393
Hospice at Home West Cumbria (WORKINGTON)
Adults
England
North West
101,692
Hospice at Home, Carlisle and North Lakeland (DALSTON)
Adults
England
North West
93,861
Hospice in the Weald (TUNBRIDGE WELLS)
Both
England
South East Coast
594,580
Hospice of St Francis (Berkhamsted)
Adults
England
East Of England
364,857
Hospice of the Good Shepherd (Chester)
Adults
England
North West
243,555
HospiceCare North Northumberland (ALNWICK)
Adults
England
North East
55,858
Hospiscare (Exeter)
Adults
England
South West
539,545
Isabel Hospice (Welwyn Garden City)
Adults
England
East Of England
349,756
Jessie May (Bristol)
Children
England
South West
68,779
John Eastwood Hospice
Adults
England
East Midlands
37,651
Julia's House (WIMBORNE)
Children
England
South West
393,945
Kate's Home Nursing (CHELTENHAM)
Adults
England
South West
26,529
Katharine House Hospice
Adults
England
South Central
106,311
Katharine House Hospice (Stafford) (STAFFORD)
Adults
England
West Midlands
292,620
Keech Hospice Care (STREATLEY)
Both
England
East Of England
569,259
Kemp Hospice (Kidderminster)
Adults
England
West Midlands
65,565
Kirkwood Hospice (HUDDERSFIELD)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
481,264
Lakelands Hospice (Corby)
Adults
England
East Midlands
27,910
Lawrence Home Nursing Team
Adults
England
South Central
28,758
Lewis-Manning Hospice Care (Poole)
Adults
England
South West
146,139
Lindsey Lodge Hospice (Scunthorpe)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
233,137
Longfield (Minchinhampton)
Adults
England
South West
150,687
LOROS Leicestershire and Rutland Hospice (Leicester)
Adults
England
East Midlands
908,253
Marie Curie (Head office) (LONDON)
Adults
National
National
3,741,578
Martin House (WETHERBY)
Children
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
435,788
Mary Ann Evans Hospice (Nuneaton)
Adults
England
West Midlands
111,447
Mary Stevens Hospice (STOURBRIDGE)
Adults
England
West Midlands
249,600
Mountbatten Isle of Wight (NEWPORT)
Adults
England
South Central
995,867
Naomi House and Jacksplace Children's Hospice (Winchester)
Children
England
South Central
363,155
Noah's Ark Children's Hospice (Barnet)
Children
England
London
343,815
North Devon Hospice (Barnstaple)
Adults
England
South West
309,979
North London Hospice (London)
Adults
England
London
849,842
Saint Michael's Hospice (HARROGATE)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
419,864
Nottinghamshire Hospice (NOTTINGHAM)
Adults
England
East Midlands
216,116
Oakhaven Hospice (LYMINGTON)
Adults
England
South Central
469,395
Overgate Hospice (Elland)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
251,077
Pendleside Hospice (Burnley)
Adults
England
North West
285,768
Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice (FARNHAM)
Adults
England
South East Coast
827,194
Pilgrims Hospices In East Kent (Canterbury)
Adults
England
South East Coast
872,396
Primrose Hospice (Bromsgrove)
Adults
England
West Midlands
86,956
Princess Alice Hospice (Esher )
Adults
England
South East Coast
792,957
Priscilla Bacon Hospice Care Ltd
Adults
England
East Of England
11,537
Prospect Hospice (Wroughton)
Adults
England
South West
380,937
Queenscourt Hospice (SOUTHPORT)
Adults
England
North West
411,471
Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People (Loughborough)
Children
England
East Midlands
433,026
Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care (WATFORD)
Both
England
East Of England
835,737
Richard House Children's Hospice (London)
Children
England
London
257,538
Rosemary Foundation - Hospice at Home (PETERSFIELD)
Adults
England
South Central
51,690
Rossendale Hospice (Rawtenstall)
Adults
England
North West
75,687
Rotherham Hospice (ROTHERHAM)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
363,202
Rowcroft - The Torbay and South Devon Hospice (Toruqay)
Adults
England
South West
474,903
Royal Trinity Hospice (London)
Adults
England
London
954,730
Saint Catherine's Hospice (Scarborough)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
313,138
Saint Francis Hospice (Havering-Atte-Bower)
Adults
England
London
573,393
Severn Hospice (Shrewsbury)
Adults
England
West Midlands
688,781
Shipston Home Nursing (Shipston-on-Stour)
Adults
England
West Midlands
30,618
Shooting Star Children's Hospices (Hampton)
Children
England
South East Coast
509,193
Sidmouth Hospice at Home
Adults
England
South West
50,777
Sobell Hospice Charity Limited
Adults
England
South Central
235,825
South Bucks Hospice (HIGH WYCOMBE)
Adults
England
South Central
57,314
St Barnabas Hospices (WORTHING)
Both
England
South East Coast
1,864,066
Springhill Hospice (Rochdale)
Adults
England
North West
335,915
St Andrew's Hospice (Grimsby) (Grimsby)
Both
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
277,767
St Ann's Hospice (CHEADLE)
Adults
England
North West
677,719
St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice (Lincoln)
Adults
England
East Midlands
709,550
St Catherine's Hospice (Crawley) (Crawley)
Adults
England
South East Coast
609,426
St Catherine's Hospice, Lancashire (Lostock Hall, Preston)
Adults
England
North West
500,160
St Christopher's Hospice (LONDON)
Adults
England
London
1,569,819
St Clare West Essex Hospice Care Trust (Hastingwood)
Adults
England
East Of England
434,835
St Cuthbert's Hospice (DURHAM)
Adults
England
North East
205,458
St Elizabeth Hospice (Ipswich)
Adults
England
East Of England
714,417
St Gemma's Hospice (LEEDS)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
675,424
St Giles Hospice (LICHFIELD)
Adults
England
West Midlands
641,379
St Helena Hospice (COLCHESTER)
Adults
England
East Of England
711,249
St John's Hospice
Adults
England
London
440,816
St John's Hospice, Lancaster (Lancaster)
Adults
England
North West
379,872
St Joseph's Hospice (London) (London )
Adults
England
London
938,909
St Joseph's Hospice Association (LIVERPOOL)
Adults
England
North West
200,161
St Leonard's Hospice (YORK)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
426,238
St Luke's Cheshire Hospice (Winsford)
Adults
England
North West
252,533
St Luke's Hospice (Basildon) (BASILDON)
Adults
England
East Of England
453,446
St Luke's Hospice (Harrow And Brent) (Harrow)
Adults
England
London
527,405
St Luke's Hospice (Sheffield) (Sheffield)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
770,529
St Luke's Hospice Plymouth (Plymouth)
Adults
England
South West
665,871
St Margaret's Hospice (Somerset) (TAUNTON)
Adults
England
South West
611,916
St Mary's Hospice (Ulverston)
Adults
England
North West
258,538
St Michael's Hospice (BASINGSTOKE)
Adults
England
South Central
258,005
St Michael's Hospice (Hastings & Rother) (St. Leonards-on-Sea)
Adults
England
South East Coast
440,829
St Michael's Hospice (Hereford) (Hereford)
Adults
England
West Midlands
499,423
St Nicholas Hospice Care (Bury St Edmunds)
Adults
England
East Of England
292,742
St Oswald's Hospice (Newcastle upon Tyne)
Both
England
North East
751,441
St Peter & St James Hospice (North Chailey )
Adults
England
South East Coast
234,096
St Peter's Hospice (Bristol)
Adults
England
South West
753,756
St Raphael's Hospice (SUTTON)
Adults
England
London
395,307
St Richard's Hospice (Worcester)
Adults
England
West Midlands
512,652
St Rocco's Hospice (Warrington)
Adults
England
North West
265,263
St Wilfrid's Hospice (Chichester) (Bosham)
Adults
England
South East Coast
423,855
St Wilfrid's Hospice (Eastbourne) (Eastbourne )
Adults
England
South East Coast
537,573
Sue Ryder ( London)
Adults
National
National
3,750,000
Teesside Hospice Care Foundation (Middlesbrough)
Adults
England
North East
224,192
Thames Hospice (Maidenhead)
Adults
England
South Central
672,002
The Darlington & District Hospice Movement (St Teresa's Hospice) (Darlington)
Adults
England
North East
230,736
The Myton Hospices (Warwick)
Adults
England
West Midlands
671,378
The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House (Kings Lynn)
Adults
England
East Of England
244,593
The Prince of Wales Hospice (Pontefract)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
211,175
The Rowans Hospice (Waterlooville)
Adults
England
South Central
513,362
The Shakespeare Hospice (Stratford Upon Avon)
Adults
England
West Midlands
96,648
Treetops Hospice Care (RISLEY)
Adults
England
East Midlands
196,402
Trinity Hospice and Palliative Care Services (Blackpool)
Both
England
North West
615,213
Tynedale Hospice at Home (Hexham)
Adults
England
North East
47,593
Wakefield Hospice (Ossett)
Adults
England
Yorkshire And Humberside
235,143
Weldmar Hospicecare (DORCHESTER)
Adults
England
South West
525,405
Weston Hospicecare (Weston-super-Mare)
Adults
England
South West
214,899
Wigan and Leigh Hospice (Wigan)
Adults
England
North West
369,258
Willen Hospice (MILTON KEYNES )
Adults
England
South Central
431,061
Willow Wood Hospice (Ashton-under-Lyne)
Adults
England
North West
181,350
Willowbrook Hospice (Prescot)
Adults
England
North West
299,610
Wirral Hospice St John's (Wirral)
Adults
England
North West
393,841
Woking & Sam Beare Hospice (WOKING)
Adults
England
South East Coast
481,630
Woodlands Hospice (LIVERPOOL)
Adults
England
North West
59,820
Zoe's Place - Baby Hospice (Coventry)
Children
England
West Midlands
225,490
Article continues below
Be the first with news from Mirror Politics
BLUESKY: Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky here. And follow our Mirror Politics team here - Lizzy Buchan, Mikey Smith, Kevin Maguire, Sophie Huskisson, Dave Burke and Ashley Cowburn.
POLITICS WHATSAPP: Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
NEWSLETTER: Or sign up here to the Mirror's Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox.
PODCAST: And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell, hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
NHS launches major search for donors with rare blood types
The NHS has launched a pioneering initiative to identify and secure blood donations from individuals with rare blood types, ensuring patients receive "precision-matched" transfusions. This UK-first drive aims to mitigate the risk of adverse reactions for those requiring blood. Scientists have embarked on a large-scale research project, DNA -testing the blood of 77,000 donors to date. Blood collected from these rare donors will be frozen, creating a vital reserve for others with the same specific blood type. Crucially, this stored blood will also be available to the donor themselves, should they ever require a transfusion. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) underscores the critical importance of precise blood matching, citing the intricate nature of blood groups, with 362 known types. The organisation stated that blood matching is "vital" given this complexity, highlighting the necessity of this new approach to enhance patient safety. This is the first time that blood types have been DNA tested in the UK at-scale, NHSBT said. Dozens of rare blood donors have been identified during the process and it is hoped the number will rise to hundreds. This means that blood from these donors can be used as 'personalised, precision-matched transfusion' for those in need. This can help avoid severe transfusion reactions – where the body sees the transfused blood as 'foreign' and rejects it. People who are particularly at risk of these reactions are those who regularly receive blood donations including those with sickle cell disorder and thalassaemia. Experts hailed the project as the 'first major step' towards rolling out precision-matched blood more widely. Dr Gail Miflin, chief medical officer at NHSBT, said: 'Taking these 77,000 donors and testing their blood to such a precise level has been an incredible undertaking and will work to significantly change the way we issue blood – especially to those patients at higher risk of transfusion-related reactions. 'We will be able to match to an increasing number of blood groups, ensuring that patients have blood that is most similar to their own and reducing the risk of any reactions. 'It is an example of just how we are driving innovation which can radically improve patient outcomes.' NHSBT's genomics programme director, Kate Downes, added: 'This inventory of blood will enhance our capacity to find units with rare blood groups for difficult to match patients as well as provide better matched units for patients who have an increased risk of transfusion reactions, aiding us in our mission to save and improve even more lives. 'This genotyping is a first major step towards rolling out precision-matched blood more widely, which would be a landmark change in how blood is matched.'
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
US organ donation system faces scrutiny and changes after reports of disturbing near-misses
The U.S. is developing new safeguards for the organ transplant system after a government investigation found a Kentucky group continued preparations for organ donation by some patients who showed signs of life, officials told Congress Tuesday. While the organ removals were canceled, near misses that some lawmakers called horrifying should never happen. A House subcommittee asked how to repair trust in the transplant network for potential organ donors and families -- some of whom have opted out of donor registries after these cases were publicized. 'We have to get this right,' said Rep. Brett Guthrie, a Kentucky Republican who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee and whose mother died waiting for a liver transplant. 'Hopefully people will walk away today knowing we need to address issues but still confident that they can give life,' Guthrie said, adding that he will remain a registered organ donor. The hearing came after a federal investigation began last fall into allegations that a Kentucky donation group pressured a hospital in 2021 to proceed with plans to withdraw life support and retrieve organs from a man despite signs that he might be waking up from his drug overdose. That surgery never happened after a doctor noticed him moving and moaning while being transported to the operating room — and the man survived. Lawmakers stressed most organ donations proceed appropriately and save tens of thousands of lives a year. But the federal probe – concluded in March but only made public ahead of Tuesday's hearing -- cited a 'concerning pattern of risk' in dozens of other cases involving the Kentucky group's initial planning to recover someone's organs. The report said some should have been stopped or reassessed earlier, and mostly involved small or rural hospitals with less experience in caring for potential organ donors. The Kentucky organ procurement organization, or OPO, has made changes and the national transplant network is working on additional steps. But notably absent Tuesday was any testimony from hospitals – whose doctors must independently determine a patient is dead before donation groups are allowed to retrieve organs. Here's a look at how the nation's transplant system works. There's a dire need for organ donation More than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant list and about 13 a day die waiting, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. Only about 1% of deaths occur in a way that allows someone to even be considered for organ donation. Most people declared dead in a hospital will quickly be transferred to a funeral home or morgue instead. How the U.S. organ transplant system is set up Several groups are involved in every transplant: the hospital caring for someone dead or dying; the 55 OPOs that coordinate recovery of organs and help match them to patients on the waiting list; and transplant centers that decide if an organ is the right fit for their patients. Adding to the complexity, two government agencies — HRSA, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — share regulatory oversight of different parts of the donation and transplant process. How deceased donation works Most organ donors are brain-dead – when testing determines someone has no brain function after a catastrophic injury. The body is left on a ventilator to support the organs until they can be retrieved. But increasingly organs are donated after circulatory death, called DCD – when people die because their heart stops. It usually happens when doctors determine someone has a nonsurvivable injury and the family withdraws life support. Donation groups don't provide hands-on patient care Hospitals are required to alert their area OPO to every potential donor who is declared brain-dead or once the decision to withdraw life support is made. The OPOs by law can't participate in that decision and "we are not even in the room at that time,' said Barry Massa of Kentucky's Network for Hope. During the following days of preparation, hospital employees continue caring for the patient – while the donation team talks with the family about the process, gathers hospital records showing the patient is eligible, requests tests of organ quality, and make arrangements with transplant centers to use them. Once the hospital withdraws life support and the heart stops beating there's a mandatory wait – five minutes – to be sure it won't restart. When the doctor declares death, the organ retrieval process can begin. Organs are only considered usable if death occurs relatively quickly, usually up to about two hours. Sometimes that takes much longer and thus the organs can't be used – and HRSA's Dr. Raymond Lynch told Congress that doesn't necessarily mean anything was done wrong. Still, he said HRSA is investigating reports of possible mistakes elsewhere. 'This is a technically demanding form of care' that requires 'good collaboration between the OPO and the hospital,' he said. What happens next At issue is how doctors are sure when it's time to withdraw life support from a dying patient — and the delicate balance of how OPOs interact with hospital staff in preparing for donation once death occurs. In May, HRSA quietly ordered the U.S. transplant network to oversee improvements at the Kentucky OPO and to develop new national policies making clear that anyone – family, hospital staff or organ donation staff – can call for a pause in donation preparations any time there are concerns about the patient's eligibility. Lynch said the government now wants more proactive collaboration from OPOs to give hospital staff 'a clear understanding' of when to at least temporarily halt and reevaluate a potential donor if their health status changes. Kentucky's Massa said his group only received HRSA's reports this week – but that after learning about last fall's allegations, it made some changes. Massa said every hospital doctor and nurse now gets a checklist on caring for potential donors and how to pause when concerns are raised — and anyone can anonymously report complaints. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Fury as ‘reckless' NHS doctors WILL strike for FIVE DAYS this week showing ‘complete disdain for patients'
DOCTORS' strikes will go ahead after talks broke down between the Health Secretary and the British Medical Association. Wes Streeting said they are showing a 'complete disdain for patients'. 2 2 NHS resident doctors, formerly junior doctors, will walk out on Friday until Wednesday. They r efused to drop demands for another pay rise and are now locked in a stand-off with their bosses who have refused to cancel appointments like last time. And polling shows the public no longer back them, as 33 per cent say they support strikes down from 40 per cent in May. Mr Streeting said: 'The opportunity was there for the BMA to work with us. 'Instead, they recklessly and needlessly opted for strike action. 'After a 28.9 per cent pay hike in the last three years and the highest pay rise in the public sector two years in a row, strike action shows a complete disdain for patients and the recovery of the NHS.' The BMA's Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said: 'We were happy to discuss non-pay issues, but were upfront this is at its core a pay dispute. What we've seen is a series of 'noes'.' A government source said: 'The pay rise is not going to happen. 'If they were always going to say this, I don't know why they bothered negotiating.' Rachel Power, of the Patients Association, said: 'It demonstrates a worrying disregard for the toll this disruption will have on people's health.' Daniel Elkeles, of NHS Providers, said: 'We must ensure there are enough staff for all cancer, transplant and maternity care. 'We say to the BMA, 'Think again and pull back from this hugely damaging decision'.'
