Hospices are to receive up to £60 million to help improve their facilities.

Care services minister Paul Burstow said the money was open to all adult and children’s hospices in England, and would be used to fund a range of improvements including updating bedrooms and bathrooms and improving outdoor spaces.

Mr Burstow said: “Our surroundings at the end of our lives play a critical role in our well being.

“This money will help hospices all over the country make improvements, such as redesigning rooms or putting in place facilities to help people remain independent.

“We are making this investment because we want hospices to be able to provide dignified, compassionate, high quality care and support to people and their families at what is a difficult time in their lives.”

The funding was welcomed by David Praill, chief executive of the charity Help the Hospices.

“In these challenging times, investment in hospices is vital so they can modernise and expand in order to meet the growing needs of the communities they serve,” he said.

“This new grant programme will make a huge difference to the quality of care that hospices provide to people with terminal and life-limiting illnesses at home and in hospices.”