I am absolutely thrilled to have secured more funding for children's hospices to provide palliative care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
I called a debate in the House of Commons last night, and in her response the minister announced an additional £13 million going into children’s hospices; from £12 million today to £25 million a year by 2023/24. NHS England will also run a needs assessment to understand where additional investment is required, and review the funding formula to ensure that care is properly funded everywhere in the country.
As an NHS consultant paediatrician, children’s palliative care is an issue very close to my heart, and I have cared for a large number of children with life-limiting illnesses. I have been the person who delivered the bad news, and I have been there through the families’ journeys and in those final moments. For me, being a politician offers me the opportunity to provide a voice for these children and improve the care and treatment that they and their families receive.
I have been campaigning on this for some time in my role as Chair of the APPG for Children Who Need Palliative Care, supported by the wonderful charity Together for Short Lives.
Provision of care, including respite breaks, can be patchy across the country, and some families struggle to get the support they need at an already difficult time. I have been pushing for increased funding for children’s hospices so that more children can get the care they need and deserve, and I am delighted with the announcement.
You can watch the debate here:
https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/7da29b0f-2998-4f35-818e-8e440c22cc8d?in=22:00:21
