Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice Services under threat as NHS funding falls

by Joshua Robinson –

Children’s hospice, forget me not from Huddersfield joins national campaign to protect £25m of crucial NHS funding NHS England for children’s hospices.

Calls to protect funding follow 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 funding for children’s hospices is not renewed:

The findings also show how statutory funding has fallen while children’s hospices face rising running costs. Inflation, higher energy prices and the rising cost of recruiting and retaining qualified staff mean that, on average, children’s centers in England spent 15% more in 2023/24 than in 2021/22.

However, over this period NHS bodies and local councils have cut funding for children’s hospices in England. On average, NHS local bodies spent a third (31%) less on children’s homes in 2023/24 than in 2021/22. This is despite the fact that they have a legal obligation to order
palliative care for children and increasing numbers of babies, children and young people living longer.

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests by the charity also revealed an ongoing postcode lottery in local NHS spending on children’s homes, with ICB (Integrated Care Board) funding varying by up to £366 pounds 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 such as Forget Me Not in England has been in place since 2006/7. However, neither the UK Government nor NHS England have committed to maintaining the money beyond March 2025.

Gareth Pierce, chief executive of the children’s hospice, did not forget me

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

“We may be forced to consider which of our services should stop all together – something we never want to have to do, but with the current outlook, it’s a very real possibility.”

“As the need for our services increases, we risk having to turn children and families away, which goes against our promise that no family should have to face the loss of a child alone.”

The uncertain future of vital funding comes as over half (51%) of children’s homes in England report a shortfall – a number set to rise to almost three-quarters (69%) in 2024/25 if funding continues to decreases. Together for Short Lives predicts the funding gap will reach just over £25m in 2024/25.

The charity has written to the leaders of the parties contesting the general election, urging them to make a long-term commitment to a £25m centrally-funded grant for children’s support if they form the next UK government United.

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, cuts to local funding and the prospect of lifesaving services for seriously ill children being cut sharply unless the next government takes urgent action.”

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

“And more widely, against the backdrop of a £295 million NHS children’s palliative care funding shortfall, the next Prime Minister must end the plaster of paris approach to funding these crucial services. We need a review that leads to a more permanent and sustainable funding solution.”

“Many seriously ill children will not be alive the next time Britain goes to the polls. We have a chance to get them right. They don’t have time to wait.”

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