Claire House welcomes increased funding from UK Government for Children’s Hospices

Claire House Children’s Hospice has welcomed the news that the UK Government will maintain and increase NHS funding for children’s hospices in England over the next three years.

This development represents a huge campaign win for seriously ill children, the children’s hospices who provide them with lifeline care and support and UK charity, Together for Short Lives.

Claire House, which has a Liverpool site in West Derby and a full, 24/7 hospice in Wirral, supports seriously ill babies, children and young adults across Merseyside and beyond.

Last November, Merseyside student Liam Ashton joined hospice staff and Claire House CEO David Pastor in London to urge MPs into action on the funding, formerly known as the Children’s Hospice Grant.

Liam, 21, from Halewood lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a muscle-wasting disease, and uses a wheelchair. He has been supported by Claire House for 13 years.

He said:

“I spoke to MPs about why Claire House means so much to me. It’s been a constant for over half my life and it’s so important that their services, and those at children’s hospices across the country, are protected.

“Without Claire House, life would be difficult for people with disabilities and serious illnesses. It’s vital for my life and my family. It’s kept me healthy and enabled me to live my life the way I should.”

The funding is currently worth £26 million in 2025/26. Ministers have committed to extending this over a three-year period (with annual increases in line with inflation).

Individual hospice allocations for the next three years will be published soon.

Responding to today’s announcement, David Pastor said:

“We are delighted that the Government is taking the matter of sustainable funding for children’s hospice care seriously, and would like to thank our MPs, in particular Matthew Patrick and Ian Byrne, for continually championing this vital issue.

“During the next three years, we hope to see a long-term plan which properly addresses the disparity between what is funded by the state and what is paid for by our incredible supporters, so we are able to achieve our vision of one day being able to help every baby, child, young person and their families.”

The Merseyside charity has thanked everyone who has supported the campaign.

However, while the news offers some reassurance, children’s hospices are still facing immense pressure and need the continued support of their local communities to survive.

These vital services provide lifeline care to seriously ill children and their families, something that is essential.

Nick Carroll, Chief Executive, Together for Short Lives said:

“This campaign win has been made possible by families, professionals and services working with us to make a strong case to the government. I am delighted that Together for Short Lives has played a key role in uniting our sector, amplifying their voices and achieving this positive outcome.

“While this is excellent news, wider challenges remain with workforce shortages, funding gaps and issues in commissioning, leadership and accountability preventing families from accessing the care they need, when and where they need it. I look forward to continuing to work with the ministers to make sure children’s palliative care services are in a position to play a full role in realising the shifts in healthcare set out in the government’s 10 Year Plan.”

Read more about Liam’s visit to Westminster here.

Find out more about Claire House here.

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