Hospitals warned end-of-life care crisis threatening treatment
Regional NHS leaders in Sussex have warned that a surge in end-of-life patients in hospitals is threatening the quality of care this winter, with some patients now expected to receive their final care in A&E corridors.
An internal health executives' meeting held on 4 November 2025, a video of which was seen by the BBC, detailed a "looming crisis" across the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. This trust includes major sites such as the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, Worthing Hospital, St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, and the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.
Key Concerns from the Internal Briefing 🏥
A palliative care consultant at the meeting described the "heartbreaking" dilemmas facing hospital administrators as winter pressures mount:
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Corridor Care: The consultant noted that staff are having to decide whether to accept end-of-life patients for "corridor care," turn them away, or leave them in the back of ambulances where they might die during transit.
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Capacity Displacement: There is significant concern that hospital beds filled by end-of-life patients are preventing those with treatable, chronic illnesses from being admitted.
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Hospice Funding Crisis: Local hospices are reported to be "struggling to the brink." Southern Hospice Group, which operates St Barnabas House in Worthing and Martlets in Hove, recently reported a £4 million deficit, leading to the closure of inpatient beds due to rising costs, including a £500,000 increase in National Insurance contributions.
A Fragmented System
The briefing highlighted that while many patients would prefer to die at home, a lack of community resources and social care means they are often "trapped" in hospital.
Dr Ian Higginson, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, expressed grave concern: "Patients who would like to be at home may end up in our corridors, which are not the right places for anyone, particularly those who are nearing the end of their lives."
A spokesperson for NHS Sussex maintained that staff are working "compassionately" to ensure high-quality care, but acknowledged that emergency services remain under "significant pressure."
National Context
The crisis in Sussex mirrors a broader national trend. A report by Hospice UK in late 2025 revealed that 380 hospice beds across England are currently out of use due to funding shortages, a 25% increase from the previous year. This comes as Parliament continues to debate the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, with campaigners arguing that assisted dying cannot be safely implemented without first fixing the "broken" palliative care system.
Would you like me to find out more about the specific hospice services currently being reduced in Sussex or the latest updates on the Assisted Dying Bill's progress?
