Hospices’ ray of hope

children's hospices at least as much NHS funding as adult hospices. Chief

reporter LINDA PIPER outlines the issues and talks to one mum who knows first-hand what lack of funds for a hospice can mean to a family ...

GOVERNMENT figures have revealed stark differences in NHS funding for adult and children's hospices.

Latest figures from the House of Commons library show adult facilities receive about £130 million from a total NHS budget of £300 million whereas NHS cash only accounts for five per cent of funding for children's hospices.

The Government says it makes enough NHS cash available for children's facilities to get some funding but the reality is all 22 children's hospices which provide 175 beds are run by charities which fund virtually all the running costs themselves.

The reason is, it is up to local health authorities and Primary Care Trusts to decide how much cash they pass on to both adult and children's hospices from their NHS budget.

The Government has already signalled it wants to increase the amount allocated to adult hospices by another £50m by 2004.

There is a ray of hope children's hospices will also have the chance to bid against other organisations for extra cash from the new £48m New Opportunities Fund, from next month..

Health minister Yvette Cooper told the House of Commons recently "funding available from Primary Care Trusts for services provided by children's hospices is subject to local negotiation."

She said the Government was developing a National Service Framework for children which would consider their needs. This is to include the choice of hospice care.

But Derek Conway, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, one of a number of MPs backing the News Shopper's campaign, said: "It is not good enough for the Government to say local health authorities or PCTs should increase their subsidy."

He said an increase in NHS funding for children's hospices, to at least match the cash given to adult hospices, was "a real issue of priority for the allocation of public funds."

He added: "People give very generously to the hospice movement, but it is a constant chore for fundraisers."

Desperate for respite care

LITTLE Michael Pallett has an incurable brain disorder.

Michael, who is seven next month, was diagnosed at the age of two with Rasmussen's Disease. He lives with his mum Elaine and brother Christopher aged nine, in Edgeworth Road, Eltham.

The disease has spread to both sides of his brain and last year it was diagnosed as terminal.

Elaine was hoping Michael would get a place at Demelza House, the children's hospice in Kent, for specialist respite care.

She told News Shopper: "When I heard about Demelza, it sounded great. It was somewhere Michael could go where he would be well looked after with specialist care while Christopher and I could have some time together."

But it coincided with the cash crisis at the hospice, when it was forced to close four of its eight beds and make some of its specialist staff redundant.

As a result, there were no places available for Michael. "It all went down the drain, and the whole family including Michael, has had to suffer the consequences." said Elaine.

Now, 18 months later, it looks like Michael has finally got a place at Demelza.

Although his condition is stable at the moment he suffers lots of severe headaches and problems with his eyes and has severe fits. His mother is also hoping to get him a place at a specialist residential school.

Elaine feels strongly that children like Michael should not have to suffer because the NHS won't provide block funding for children's hospices to help keep them going.

She will be writing to her MP Clive Efford backing the News Shopper campaign. "I am happy to do anything I can to support the campaign," she said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

- Write to your MP now, and urge him or her to ask questions in the House of Commons and raise the issue with the Health Secretary Alan Milburn, to try and bring about a change in NHS funding for children's hospices and hospice care at home.

- To donate money, either to Demelza House or the Ellenor Foundation, which provides hospice care at home, you can send cheques or postal orders made payable to Demelza House or Ellenor Foundation to the News Shopper Appeal, Mega House, Crest View Drive, Orpington, Kent BR5 1BT.