§ 17. Jeff Ennis (Barnsley, East and Mexborough) (Lab)If he will increase the amount of NHS funding being channelled towards children's hospices. [182198]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Dr. Stephen Ladyman)Children's hospice services are funded from a number of sources, including services commissioned by national health service primary care trusts on the basis of their assessment of children's needs and their priorities. There are no limits to the amount of funding that may be provided—that is for local decision.
§ Jeff EnnisI am sure that the Minister is aware of my early-day motion 667, entitled "Review of NHS Funding for Children's Hospices", which highlights a differential that exists whereby children's hospices receive only 5 per cent. of their funding through the NHS while adult's hospices receive up to 38 per cent. of their funding in such a way. There is genuine concern throughout South Yorkshire about the disparity, so will the Minister meet me to discuss the matter in greater detail?
§ Dr. LadymanI would be happy to meet my hon. Friend, but I must stress again that services for children's hospices need to be based on the needs of individual children, not on the basis of a blanket figure that he or I might think appropriate.