Warwickshire hospice appeal raises almost £270,000 in three months

Myton, which has three hospices in Coventry, Rugby and Warwick and dozens of stores, said three out of five people on their waiting list for a bed died before they could access one.

Ms Freeman said the money would help ensure more people can access a hospice bed and the palliative and end-of-life care they need.

“We firmly believe that everyone who needs a palliative care bed should have access to it and that no person at the end of life should be placed on a waiting list,” she added.

The charity launched the appeal at Leamington Spa Town Hall on September 17, where it recreated a photo from 1982, when the hospice opened.

It said only 20% of its costs were covered by statutory funding and its annual running costs were at a record high of £14.3m, meaning it had to raise £11m every year to continue providing free services.

The increase in National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage announced in the recent Budget would also cost an extra £190,000 next year, a hospice spokesperson added.