During a debate on support for hospices last week in Parliament, Aberconwy MP Robin Millar paid tribute to the clinical staff and volunteers of Tŷ Gobaith Children's Hospice and St David’s Hospice.
Robin opened his speech by saying:
“I would like to pay tribute briefly to two hospices in my constituency, St David’s and Tŷ Gobaith, which is Welsh for “Hope House”, and particularly to the clinical teams there. The UK has a reputation for having some of the best palliative care in the world, but it is not appreciated as much as it might be.
“I thank healthcare workers, the volunteers, who have such a critical role to play, and those who donate. Donations provide up to 70% of Tŷ Gobaith’s income.”
Continuing he said:
“Hospices play a key role. Ninety children a year are looked after by Tŷ Gobaith, which has the effect of reducing pressure on the NHS and supports the delivery of end-of-life care within homes across north Wales.
“The hospice faces record numbers of referrals, as increasing numbers of babies and children in Wales are living with complex life-limiting conditions. It forecasts a deficit of £1.3 million this year and will not be cost-neutral until 2026.”
Concluding, Robin said:
“Hospices have earned our respect. There is no doubt that their staff and teams have also won our deep gratitude. Now they must have our support.”
Following the debate, Robin said:
“I’d like to thank Trystan Pritchard, the Chief Executive of St David’s, and Tŷ Gobaith’s Chief Executive Andy Goldsmith for their time and for being so forthcoming about the challenges that they and other hospices in Wales are facing.
“Tŷ Gobaith and St David’s are deeply appreciated by the people of Aberconwy and I will be exploring ways that I can support them.”
Trystan Pritchard, Chief Executive of St David’s Hospice, commented:
“Part of the challenge that we face is that awareness of the role and value of the hospice does not come until the point at which it is needed.
“Inflationary pressures are causing severe challenges – our energy costs alone have soared by over 50% in just the last year.
"We are also very concerned that our supporters' ability to donate to us will be reduced as disposable incomes fall in these difficult times.
"However, we are determined to maintain our critical services and to pay our inspirational staff a fair and competitive salary. To keep up with likely NHS pay rises, £4.4 million in Government funding is needed now for hospices in Wales just to help them keep pace and survive.”
AS Aberconwy yn talu teyrnged i hosbisau lleol ac yn galw am fwy o gymorth ariannol
Yn ystod dadl ar gymorth i hosbisau yn Senedd y DU yr wythnos ddiwethaf, talodd AS Aberconwy Robin Millar deyrnged i staff clinigol a gwirfoddolwyr Hosbis Plant Tŷ Gobaith a Hosbis Dewi Sant.
Agorodd Robin ei araith drwy ddweud:
“Hoffwn dalu teyrnged sydyn i ddwy hosbis yn fy etholaeth, Dewi Sant a Thŷ Gobaith, ac yn benodol i’r timau clinigol yno. Mae gan y DU enw da am ddarparu gofal lliniarol sydd gyda’r gorau yn y byd, ond nid yw hynny’n cael ei werthfawrogi gymaint ag y dylai.
“Hoffwn ddiolch i’r gweithwyr gofal iechyd a’r gwirfoddolwyr, sy’n chwarae rhan mor allweddol, ac i’r rhai sy’n cyfrannu. Mae rhoddion yn cyfrif am hyd at 70% o incwm Tŷ Gobaith.”
Aeth ymlaen i ddweud:
“Mae gan hosbisau rôl allweddol. Mae 90 o blant y flwyddyn yn cael gofal gan Dŷ Gobaith, sydd drwy eu cyfraniad yn tynnu peth o’r pwysau oddi ar y GIG ac sy’n helpu i ddarparu gofal diwedd oes mewn cartrefi ledled gogledd Cymru.
“Mae’r hosbis yn cael mwy o atgyfeiriadau nag erioed, wrth i niferoedd cynyddol o fabanod a phlant yng Nghymru fyw â chyflyrau cymhleth sy’n cyfyngu ar eu bywydau. Mae’n rhagweld diffyg o £1.3 miliwn eleni ac ni fydd yn gost-niwtral tan 2026.”
Wrth gloi, meddai Robin:
“Mae hosbisau wedi ennill ein parch. Heb amheuaeth, mae eu staff a’u timau hefyd wedi haeddu ein diolchiadau. Yn awr mae’n rhaid iddynt gael ein help.”
Yn dilyn y ddadl, meddai Robin:
“Mi hoffwn ddiolch i Trystan Pritchard, Prif Weithredwr Hosbis Dewi Sant, a Phrif Weithredwr Tŷ Gobaith, Andy Goldsmith am eu hamser ac am fod mor agored am yr heriau maent hwy a hosbisau eraill yng Nghymru’n eu hwynebu.
“Mae pobl Aberconwy’n gwerthfawrogi gwaith Tŷ Gobaith a Dewi Sant ac mi fyddaf yn chwilio am ffyrdd i’w helpu.”
Meddai Trystan Pritchard, Prif Weithredwr Hosbis Dewi Sant:
“Rhan o’r her sy’n ein hwynebu yw nad yw ymwybyddiaeth o rôl a gwerth yr hosbis yn amlwg tan yr adeg pan fydd ei angen.
“Mae pwysau chwyddiant yn achosi anawsterau difrifol – mae ein costau ynni wedi cynyddu 50% yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf yn unig.
"Rydym hefyd yn pryderu y bydd gallu ein rhoddwyr i gyfrannu’n cael ei effeithio wrth i incymau gwario leihau yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwn.
"Fodd bynnag, mi ydym yn benderfynol o gynnal ein gwasanaethau critigol ac i dalu cyflog teg a chystadleuol i’n staff ysbrydoledig. Er mwyn cyfateb i godiadau cyflog y GIG, mae angen £4.4 miliwn mewn cyllid gan y Llywodraeth yn awr ar hosbisau yng Nghymru er mwyn cynnal ein gwasanaethau presennol ac i oroesi.”