Up to £30 million for children's support services

A renewed commitment to help children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions has been made by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

Up to £30 million is being made available for this year to help children's hospices, networks and other providers develop local children's palliative care projects. Networks play a key role in bringing together local practitioners and organisations, including children's hospices and other voluntary sector bodies.

Professor Sir Alan Craft has been asked to chair a panel to consider proposals, which will be funded in-year only. In 2007, Sir Alan led an independent review that identified variation in the availability of children's palliative care services and issues around their sustainability. The current funding will help to address these key issues.

Andrew Lansley said: “Every child that is seriously or terminally ill should be properly supported. That's why we are investing an extra £30 million in the coming year to support local projects. While this funding demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving children's palliative care, it is only part of the picture. In the long-run we need to introduce a per-patient funding system for all hospices and other providers of palliative care so that proper support for sick children and adults can develop.”

Professor Sir Alan Craft said: ”This is really good news for a very vulnerable group of children, young people and their families. I will be working with a small group to move this rapidly into positive action.”

Lizzie Chambers, the Chief Executive of ACT said: “This is a great opportunity for all children's palliative care services to develop new partnerships to help children and young people with shortened lives, and their families. It is a much needed catalyst for the sector to work together creatively and quickly to develop co-ordinated and accessible care for the 20,000 babies, children and young people who are living in England with a life-limiting condition.”

Barbara Gelb, Chief Executive of Children's Hospices UK, said: “It is excellent news that the coalition government is maintaining this funding. Children's hospices in England look forward to developing innovative projects to help more children, young people and families.”