Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice Services Under Threat as NHS Funding Falls

Posted By: Christopher Morganon: June 24, 2024In: Current Affairs, News, Regional News

Russell House

Reading Time: 3 minutes

By Joshua Robinson –

Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield is joining a national campaign to protect £25 million of crucial NHS funding from NHS England for children’s hospices.

The calls to protect the funding follow on from a new report from Together for Short Lives, ‘Short Lives Can’t Wait: Children’s Hospice Funding in 2024,’ which revealed that if NHS England’s funding for children’s hospices is not renewed:

82% would cut or stop providing respite care or short breaks.
45% would cut end-of-life care.
64% would cut or stop providing hospice at-home services.

The findings, also show how statutory funding has declined while children’s hospices contend with growing running costs. Inflation, higher energy prices, and the rising cost of recruiting and retaining skilled staff means that, on average, children’s hospices in England spent 15% more in 2023/24 compared to 2021/22.

Yet during this time local NHS bodies and councils have cut funding for children’s hospices in England. On average, local NHS bodies spent a third (31%) less on children’s hospices in 2023/24 than in 2021/22. This is despite them having a legal duty to commission
children’s palliative care and a growing number of babies, children, and young people living longer.

Freedom of information requests (FOIs) conducted by the charity also showed a continuing postcode lottery in local NHS spending on children’s hospices, with ICB (Integrated Care Boards) funding varying by as much as £366 per child in 2023/24. While Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire ICB spent an average of £397 per child, Northamptonshire ICB spent just £31 per child.

Central funding for children’s hospices like Forget Me Not in England has existed since 2006/7. Yet neither the UK Government nor NHS England have committed to maintaining the money beyond March 2025.

Gareth Pierce, Forget Me Not children’s hospice CEO

Gareth Pierce, Chief Executive at Forget Me Not said: “If the NHS England funding is not renewed, we would need to consider reducing services across the board, including much needed respite and short breaks for families – services they can’t get anywhere else.”

“We might be forced to consider which of our services might need to stop all together – something that we never want to have to do, but with the current outlook, that is a very real possibility.”

“As the need for our services grows, we’re at risk of having to turn children and families away, something that goes against our promise that no family should have to face the loss of their child alone.”

The uncertain future of the vital funding comes as over half (51%) of children’s hospices in England report a deficit – a number set to grow to nearly three quarters (69%) in 2024/25, should funding continue to fall. Together for Short Lives estimates the funding shortfall will reach just over £25 million in 2024/25.

The charity has written to the leaders of the parties contesting the general election, urging them to commit to a £25 million centrally funded, ringfenced children’s hospice grant for the long-term, should they form the next UK Government.

Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives, said: “On the eve of the general election, our children’s hospices are at a turning point. Our report paints a bleak picture of rising costs, local funding cuts and the prospect of lifeline services for seriously ill children being hugely reduced unless the next government intervenes urgently.”

“For 18 years, families have relied on the central NHS funding for children’s hospices. The parties must commit to continuing it for the long-term as a £25 million ringfenced grant which increases with the rate of inflation.”

“And more widely, amid a £295m NHS children’s palliative care funding gap, the next Prime Minster must end the sticking plaster approach to funding these crucial services. We need a review which leads to a more permanent, sustainable funding solution.”

“Many seriously ill children will not be alive the next time the UK goes to the polls. We have one chance to get it right for them. They do not have time to wait.”