By Isle of Wight Observer
At yesterday’s (Thursday) AGM, Mountbatten Isle of Wight confirmed that the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) will not withdraw £527,000 in funding this autumn. The decision follows constructive discussions in recent weeks and marks a vital reprieve for the Island’s only hospice.
Mountbatten welcomed the move, which safeguards expert community services and 24/7 end-of-life care – for now. The next six months will be a period of transition, as Mountbatten and the ICB continue negotiations over a new contract and funding arrangements beyond April 2026.
However, serious concerns remain. The ICB has proposed a £1.4 million disinvestment from Mountbatten Isle of Wight’s budget for the next financial year. This will be central to ongoing talks about the future scope of NHS-funded hospice services on the Island.
Mountbatten CEO Nigel Hartley MBE thanked staff and volunteers for their tireless efforts and praised the public for their overwhelming support – through letters to the ICB, MPs and Healthwatch, and a widely signed petition.
Earlier this week, Mountbatten was awarded £996,000 in emergency government funding, to be shared between its Isle of Wight and Hampshire hospices. This one-off grant is restricted to building refurbishment and equipment, and cannot be used for day-to-day running costs or to offset proposed NHS cuts.
Currently, up to one-third of Mountbatten’s operating costs are funded by the NHS. The remaining two-thirds come from public generosity – via donations, fund-raising, gifts in wills, grants, and charity shop income.
East Wight MP, Joe Robertson, cautiously welcomed the ICB’s decision: “I’m pleased the ICB has seen sense and reversed its in-year cut. But the fight isn’t over,” he said. “They’re still proposing a huge reduction next year without credible justification. I’m working with Healthwatch, the Government and others to stop the defunding of our hospice to finance Hampshire’s care.”
Richard Quigley, MP for the West Wight, added: “This is great news and testament to the amount of work Becky and Nigel have put in to get the ICB to understand how valued Mountbatten is on the Island. Credit also to the ICB for realising their initial decision was too hasty. They could have just dug in – but they didn’t. I’ll continue to work with Becky to ensure the hospice has a great future.”
