Ardgowan Hospice Announces Organisational Restructure to Protect Frontline Care

Faced with a £600,000 deficit and no assurances from the Scottish Government about the promised funding for staff, Ardgowan Hospice today announced that it has undertaken a significant organisational restructuring.

This situation has arisen following the hospice being let down by the level of government funding originally discussed for Scottish hospices. To achieve the government’s aspiration of funding parity, Ardgowan Hospice would need £450,000 this year. The Scottish Government awarded Ardgowan only £157,000. Like many similar organisations across the country, Ardgowan Hospice continues to face intense financial pressures, and this restructure was deemed crucial to safeguard the quality and continuity of care for the people of Inverclyde.

Despite support from local MSP, Stuart McMillan, who has raised these issues directly with the Scottish Government, Ardgowan Hospice as a small local charity cannot wait for the government to respond to calls for a proper funding framework. It isn’t able to rely upon reserves, which is why it has acted decisively to ensure the hospice’s work can continue.

To ensure the hospice’s essential patient and family services remain unaffected, the restructuring includes removing the Senior Management level within the charity. This has resulted in two senior management posts being made redundant. They are also establishing a new charity, in partnership with other like-minded charitable organisations, to provide financial services support, ensuring savings for all involved, whilst enabling the Ardgowan finance team to be employed by the new organisation. These changes were made only after extensive consideration and are a direct result of the financial pressures currently facing the hospice sector in Scotland.

“These changes mean we are still here for you if you need us. Our services remain the same. Our priority has always been, and will remain, the individuals and families who rely on us every day,” said Graham Gardiner, CEO of Ardgowan Hospice. “It is challenging and uncomfortable to have to make these changes, but without the funding we had been led to expect, it was the only responsible option to protect frontline clinical services. The hospice has taken responsibility to move forward. We need the government to act on their intentions.”

Ardgowan Hospice remains committed to its mission of delivering compassionate, specialist palliative care and support to local patients and their loved ones. The charity will continue to advocate for sustainable funding for hospice services across Scotland and the wider UK.

Ways to support the work of Ardgowan Hospice

Since this blog article was originally published, we have received various messages from our incredible supporters asking what they can do to support the hospice during this difficult period. Here are just a few ideas for those who wish to get involved before the launch of our Urgent Appeal in the New Year:

1. Set up a regular gift (monthly donation) or one-off donation: https://ardgowanhospice.enthuse.com/donate#!/
2. Purchase an item from our Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/
3. Leave a gift to Ardgowan Hospice in your will via our free will services: https://ardgowanhospice.org.uk/gift-in-will/
4. Sign up for the 2026 Glasgow Kiltwalk using one of our free sign-up codes: Email fundraising@ardgowanhospice.org with the date, walk and number of tickets you are looking for!
5. Sign up for the Ardgowan Hospice Lottery: https://ardgowanhospice.safeandsecurewebservices.net/weekly-lottery