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Hospices across Wales have been given a share of £4 million funding from the Welsh Government.

With the cost-of-living crisis making fundraising harder, hospices have struggled to retain and recruit staff, with some questioning whether they can continue to maintain services, the Welsh Government has said.

The aim of the funding is to ensure the palliative and end-of-life care provided by hospices across Wales can continue.

Of the funding, more than £770,000 will go to the two children’s hospices – Ty Gobaith and Ty Hafan – which support children and young people living with a life-limiting condition.

Eluned Morgan, who is Wales’ health secretary, said: “Hospices and end-of-life care services are highly valued, and they play a really important role in supporting families at some of the most difficult times in their lives.

“They also support the NHS to provide essential care to around 20,000 who need palliative and end-of-life care every year.

“This funding will help to ensure they can continue to provide these vital services and keep on providing high-quality care across Wales.”

Liz Booyse, chair of Hospices Cymru and the chief executive for City Hospice, welcomed the funding and said: “Every year, thousands of adults and children facing life-limiting illnesses turn to charitable hospices in Wales for expert care and trusted support, for them and their families.”

She added: “As the demand for our services continues to grow, we also welcome Welsh Government’s commitment to develop a sustainable funding arrangement with Welsh hospices.

“This commitment is vital for ensuring the ongoing continuity of the critical services we provide to communities across Wales.”

The funding has also been welcomed by Matthew Brindley, who is the policy and advocacy manager in Wales for Hospice UK.

He said: “This support will help ensure our members can continue providing essential care to 20,000 people affected by terminal illnesses each year, taking pressure off the NHS.

“But hospices still face an uncertain future with ever-increasing complexity of care and cost of living pressures.”

He continued: “This money gives hospices much-needed support and security now, but we will need to work with Welsh Government and health boards to develop a more sustainable and equitable funding solution that recognises the critical partnership role Welsh hospices play delivering care with our NHS colleagues.

Rachel Jones, of Marie Curie Cymru, said the funding announcement was “welcome” but called for a “more sustainable funding model”.

She explained: “As a charity, we are fortunate to have amazing supporters who help raise vital funds to enable us to deliver services to support and care for individuals and their loved ones across Wales, but relying on this generosity is not sustainable and we are not isolated from the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis.”