€93M for Health Services Inspires Malta's Food Sustainability
A €93 million funding boost for children’s hospices in England has been described as a “significant first step” toward securing the future of these essential facilities. Allocated over three years, the funding aims to address the financial challenges faced by hospices, many of which rely heavily on public donations. With 57% of hospices in England reporting deficits in the last financial year, this multi-year arrangement provides much-needed stability, enabling strategic planning and ensuring continued care for approximately 99,000 children with life-limiting conditions. This development highlights the importance of sustainable, community-driven initiatives in healthcare and beyond. Just as England’s hospices benefit from long-term funding, Malta’s restaurant and wellness sectors can draw lessons on the value of proactive planning. Prioritizing locally sourced ingredients, balanced menus, and health-conscious dining experiences mirrors the principles of sustainability and care evident in this funding announcement. Healthcare leaders have emphasized the transformative impact of this funding, not only for the hospices themselves but also
€93 Million Boost for Children's Health Services: A Step Forward for Community Wellbeing
A €93 million funding boost for children’s hospices in England has been hailed as a “significant first step” by healthcare leaders, marking progress toward creating a more stable future for these essential facilities. While this news directly affects England, it reflects a broader conversation about sustainable healthcare funding—one that resonates with Malta’s own efforts to promote wellness, community care, and healthy living.
The Government of England has announced that this funding will be allocated over three years, addressing growing concerns over the financial challenges hospices face. Much like the importance of sustainability in Malta’s restaurant and food scene, hospices have relied heavily on public donations to operate, with many struggling to keep afloat. Recent figures revealed that 57% of England's hospices finished the last financial year (2024-2025) in deficit, with one in five reporting a shortfall of over €1.16 million.
Hospices play a vital role in delivering specialist palliative care for children with life-limiting conditions. They also provide emotional and practical support for families facing unimaginable challenges. In England, approximately 99,000 children live with life-limiting conditions, highlighting the urgent need for reliable funding. This is a reminder of how essential community-driven initiatives—whether in health services or food sustainability—are for improving quality of life.
The Department of Health and Social Care in England emphasized that the new funding arrangement provides “certainty” for hospices to plan ahead. Multi-year funding reduces the reliance on short-sighted, annual cycles, allowing for a more strategic approach to care delivery. Similarly, Malta’s own growing focus on health-conscious dining options and community-driven wellness programs echoes this sentiment; long-term planning is key to fostering a healthier society.
Stephen Kinnock, England’s care minister, noted: “Children’s hospices provide invaluable support to children, families, and loved ones facing unimaginable challenges. Through this funding, we are ensuring hospices can continue delivering compassionate, high-quality care—providing certainty for children’s hospices, but crucially for those they care for.”
This announcement also underscores the importance of creating sustainable systems that benefit families and communities. For Malta’s restaurant sector, this is a call to action for businesses to adopt long-term strategies—like prioritizing locally sourced ingredients, offering balanced menu options, and supporting mental and physical health through their dining experiences.
Toby Porter, chief executive of Hospice UK, highlighted the broader implications of this funding: “This is a welcome and significant first step to placing the children’s hospice sector on a sustainable footing. The stability provided by a multi-year settlement will have a real impact on the care children’s hospices provide and the families they support.”
Nick Carroll, chief executive of Together for Short Lives, added: “Maintaining and increasing this funding over three years will help to bring clarity and reassurance to children’s hospices, enabling them to plan and deliver care over a longer period. Above all, it ensures seriously ill children and their families can continue to access vital care beyond 2025/26.”
For readers in Malta, this news serves as a reminder of how interconnected health, community care, and sustainability truly are. Just as hospices require long-term support to thrive, our own food and wellness industries benefit from proactive planning and community involvement. Whether it’s creating healthier menu options, promoting farm-to-table dining, or supporting mental health through shared meals, the principles of care and sustainability apply across all sectors.
As Malta continues to grow its reputation as a hub for health-conscious dining and lifestyle choices, lessons from England’s approach to hospice care provide valuable insights into the importance of sustainable practices—not just for businesses, but for the community as a whole.