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Hospices could face closure as they are hit with an estimated £30million Tory “stealth tax” over pensions.

The Government is raising employers’ pension contributions in the health sector.

NHS Trusts will get extra cash to deal with the increase.

But charity hospices, where terminally ill people are cared for in their final days, won’t get additional money to ease the transition and care homes will not get any money either.

Tory ministers risk being accused of sneaking out the plans after they appeared online in a 36-page document just a week before Christmas.

Health sector employers – including hospices – currently pay 14.3% of a worker’s pensionable pay into the NHS pension scheme.

That is set to rise to 20.6% from this April under plans revealed in a consultation due to close today.

Hospice UK CEO Tracey Bleakley said: “We are deeply concerned about the impact that current proposals to significantly increase employer contributions to the NHS pension scheme would have on charitable hospices across the UK.”

She added they are “likely to create additional costs of up to £30million each year”.

(Image: Getty Images)

Ms Bleakley said: “This comes on the back of the NHS pay increases, which will create similarly punishing extra costs for hospices.

"The net effect of these two changes could add up to £60million per year in extra costs for hospices.

“This double whammy of what are effectively stealth taxes is likely to take a big hit on the sector and will jeopardise the future of some hospice services

“All UK governments must take action to protect the care provided by hospices.”

There are about 200 hospices in England and Wales giving care to 200,000 people every year.

Labour MP James Frith said: “It is right that the Government tackles the growing deficit in the NHS pension pot, but this cannot come at the expense of patient care."