§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that children's hospices receive the same level of national health service funding as other hospices. [122864]
§ Ms StuartUnlike hospices for adults, children's hospices provide mainly respite care for children with complex needs and their families. To be worthwhile, such care needs to be convenient and flexible to the needs of the family, so a number of different models, including respite at home or in hospices or hospitals, are available in different localities. Where there is a hospice, I know these services are highly valued by users and by the local health economy
232WHealth authorities must use their recurrent funding to meet the assessed health needs of their resident population, including the need for palliative or respite care for children or adults. Precise levels of funding are a matter for local discussion and agreement, based on local health needs assessment as set out in Health Improvement Programmes.