Children’s hospice Helen & Douglas House says more support needed despite £80m government funding
The charity says current funding levels won't meet growing demand for care.
Helen & Douglas House has welcomed a new guarantee of £80 million in government funding for children’s hospices across the country over the next three years, but says more support is needed to meet rising demand and costs.
The Oxford-based charity, which provides care for terminally ill children and their families, says the funding commitment will only maintain existing levels of support from government rather than increase them.
According to Helen & Douglas House, government funding will continue to make up just 11% of its total costs, with the majority of its annual £6 million running costs still covered by public donations and fundraising efforts.
Children’s hospices like Helen & Douglas House say they face rising demand for their services and mounting financial pressures.
David Whittingham, Chief Executive of Helen & Douglas House, said, “We would like to thank the government for this guarantee which we have been seeking and also thank Together for Short Lives and Hospice UK for lobbying on our behalf to gain continued government funding.
“But this just maintains the funding which we have been receiving from the government which is just 11% of our total costs and much more is needed. Adult hospices received between 25-30% of their total costs from the government and we would like to see our funding come in line with this. With an increasing demand for our services and rising costs, more funding is still needed from the government.
“This guarantee of future funding for three years is not enough to fund future demand for children’s hospice services. We remain indebted to our supporters for their generosity, who fund the majority of the care and services we provide, who we would like to thank.
“It costs over £6 million a year to provide care for local families with the majority of this provided by public funding from supporters. Increased government funding is needed for children’s hospices in line with adult hospices to reduce the burden on the public to fund these services.”
Helen & Douglas House says government support for adult hospices currently covers between 25% and 30% of their total costs, and the charity wants children’s hospices to receive similar levels of backing.
Despite ongoing questions about funding, Helen & Douglas House says it remains committed to providing vital care for families in the Oxfordshire area and beyond, thanks to ongoing public support and the recent government pledge.
The charity says demand for its services is likely to keep growing in the years ahead.