North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan has reaffirmed her commitment to securing sustainable funding for children in England who depend on crucial hospice care.

Having visited Hope House Children's Hospice in Morda earlier this year, Mrs Morgan had previously expressed her endorsement for safeguarding the grant and had written to the Secretary of State for Health.

The grant plays a vital role in enabling hospices like Hope House to meet their financial requirements, preventing them from having to seek significant additional funds through alternative means such as fundraising.

Andy Goldsmith, chief executive of Hope House Children's Hospice, emphasised the significance of the grant, stating that their annual operational costs amount to £7.5 million.

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He said: “About 80 per cent of our funding comes from the incredible support we get from the local community, which we are extremely grateful for.

“The rest comes from various sources, including the Children’s Hospice Grant, which this year brought in £288,000, which pays for a lot of care.

“On the grand scheme of what is spent on healthcare and social care in this country the £25 million the Government spends on the Children’s Hospice Grant is a drop in the ocean.

“But the care, love and support it gives to children and families via hospices like us is immense. The grant should continue and should be secure, and as a compassionate country the Government should commit to that funding going forward, but also look to increase it.”

These actions align with the recent observance of 'Children's Hospice Week,' during which the APPG for Children Who Need Palliative Care drew attention to new research conducted by UK charity Together for Short Lives.

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The findings highlighted the impact the loss of the grant would have on children's hospices in England and the potential consequences if central distribution of funds were to cease.

Expressing her appreciation for the exceptional work carried out by Hope House and similar hospices, Morgan urged the Secretary of State to protect the Children's Hospice Grant.

She added: “Hope House do truly remarkable work to support families across Shropshire and beyond, supporting them to make the most of life in circumstances that can sometimes be too difficult to imagine.

“The Children’s Hospice Grant must be protected by the Secretary of State. The work done and care provided by hospices like Hope House across the country is truly incredible, and the grant goes a long way to making that possible.”