§ 1. Mr. Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley)If he will make resources available to ensure that children's hospices receive the same level of funding as other hospices. [127508]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Yvette Cooper)Children's hospices are on the same footing as adult hospices. We are increasing the resources available to the national health service across the board, and we expect local areas to put in place palliative care strategies; that includes support for children, and families too.
§ Mr. HoyleI do not think that that is quite the case—far from it. In fact, Derian house, based in Chorley, does not get the same funding as an adult hospice would. All that we are asking for is equal funding. Quite rightly, my neighbour, Mr. Leo Duffy, who is the treasurer to Derian house, came to see me and asked me why children's hospices do not receive the same amount. I could not give him an answer, but I promised that I would raise that with my hon. Friend the Minister. I do hope that we can change the situation and that funding can be found, especially as children's hospices—particularly the one in Chorley— 142 take children from all over the country, and therefore the burden should be spread and there should be direct funding from the Government.
§ Yvette CooperIt is a matter for local commissioners to develop palliative care in each area and to set up appropriate commissioning arrangements. We expect that to include support for children as well as for adults. We are aware that, where children have illnesses that are life-threatening, there are specific additional needs for support for such children and their families. That is exactly why we have introduced the Diana's children's community nursing teams, who often work with hospices to provide extra support directly for those children and families in need.
§ Mrs. Marion Roe (Broxbourne)As chairman of the all-party parliamentary hospice group, I am aware that not just children's hospices but many other hospices are finding it extremely difficult to meet their revenue costs mainly from voluntary subscription, and that some are facing serious financial problems. Will the Minister undertake to review the resourcing from the Government for hospices, to ensure that they remain viable and continue to provide such a worthwhile service in our community?
§ Yvette CooperWe recognise the huge contribution that the hospice movement makes to palliative care. We have identified the need for more systematic support for palliative care, especially for cancer; that is why Professor Mike Richards is currently developing a supportive care strategy for palliative care that includes suggestions of how we can improve that across the board.