Shooting Star Children's Hospices

In November, Shooting Star Children’s Hospices will be forced to cut half of the families they give respite care to. The hospices care for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families, across 15 boroughs of London – including children and families in Mitcham and Morden.

In light of this extremely concerning news, Siobhain coordinated a letter signed by MPs from across those boroughs sent directly to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock. The letter calls on him to pledge to help so that these vital hospices can continue their invaluable support for these families at such a difficult time. In addition to the letter, Siobhain coordinated a roundtable in Parliament with other MPs and the Chief Executive of Shooting Star Children's Hospices, Nigel Harding. The importance of the hospice's work could not be clearer.

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices currently supports 700 families from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care. It is in the top 3% of health and social care services in England but has seen demand in the last five years soar, with referrals
increasing by 38% in the last year alone.

NHS England have recently promised to ring fence £25 million of NHS funding to support children’s hospices, but this news hasn’t come soon enough for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. Without urgent funding, this leading children’s hospice charity will be forced to cut their respite provision in November.

Siobhain is urgently calling on the Government to help Shooting Star Children’s Hospices so that they can continue this invaluable support.

If you are affected or would like to speak to Siobhain further on this issue, please do not hesitate to email mcdonaghs@parliament.uk or call 0207 219 4678.