'We don't want to have to turn a child away'

A children's hospice with three sites across the West Midlands has called on the health secretary to stick to his promise of more financial support to ensure its future.

Last month, Wes Streeting said hospices would get help to cope in the face of rising National Insurance costs and a drop in government funding, with details to be set out before Christmas.

"We're all hoping for that Christmas present," said chief executive of Acorns Children's Hospice, Trevor Johnson.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said hospice funding for next year would be set out in due course.

The National Children's Hospice Grant, worth £25m for hospices across the country, is due to end this year.

Speaking at Acorns' Worcester hospice, Mr Johnson said doubt over funding meant it was difficult to make plans for the future.

"We don't want to be in the position where we ever have to make a decision to turn a child away because we don't have the income to be able to care for them," he said.

He added it already costs £13m a year to keep Acorns running, and demand had risen "exponentially".

"What we need from [Streeting] is a five-year commitment in line with inflation to maintain that Children's Hospice Grant."

Keri Harris, from Leominster, said she relies on Acorns for support with her son Patrick.

"I don't know how I would cope," she said. "We rely so much on hospice and everything they do.

"It's really scary to think that funding's going to be cut."

The help Acorns provides, said Ms Harris, allows her to do things most people take for granted, like shopping, having a shower, and being a mother to her other child.

"It would be such a shame to my family and to the thousands and thousands of others out there that benefit from them."

A spokesperson for the DHSC said it was working to ensure everyone has access to high-quality end of life care, adding that it was investing another £26bn in health and social care.

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