Call For Better Funding For Children's Hospices

12.36.53pm GMT Mon 20th Nov 2006

Richard Burt (left) meets Archie the Acorns Bear (as well as Bob the Builder and Tweety Pie) with Staff Nurse Chris Walker and Acorns Chief Executive, John Overton

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt, recently visited Acorns Children's Hospice, Worcester and has called for an increase in long term state funding to avoid a repeat of this year's forced bed closures.

Four out of ten beds at the Bath Road hospice were closed following the loss of Lottery funding last March. But recently announced grant aid, providing £1million over three years for Acorns in Worcester, has allowed new staff to be appointed and for the beds to be brought back into service by Christmas.

Following his visit, Richard Burt made a submission to the Kraft review led by Sir Alan Kraft and Sue Killen calling for an increase in state funding for children's hospices from 10% to 30%, to match the funding for adult hospices.

"Acorns have to raise 10 million pounds a year from charitable donations to run three hospices in the West Midlands and sadly, there is still not enough capacity. It really is time for the Government to provide the same long term financial stability for children's hospices that it provides for adult services.

"Acorns gives the very best in palliative care for children in Worcestershire and also provides close support for families. There is a huge fundraising organisation that supports this work and the public are very generous, but it really is time for Ministers to end the uncertainty of short term funding arrangements and accept a fair share of the responsibility."