What our MPs think - continued (From News Shopper)

What our MPs think - continued

10:45am Wednesday 27th March 2002 in News

BROMLEY MPs have pledged support to the News Shopper's campaign for adequate funding of children's hospice care.

While hospice care for dying adults gets between a third and half of its running costs paid by the Government, children's hospices, on average, receive less than four per cent of their running costs.

Already News Shopper readers are writing to their MPs asking why children's hospice care doesn't receive at least the same funding as those for adults.

Jacqui Lait, MP for Beckenham said while the voluntary input into hospice care was very important, some government funding was still necessary.

"At the last election the Tory Party manifesto proposed 40 per cent funding for both adult and children's hospice care.

"I am a great believer in the hospice movement and I am happy to raise the issue with the Department of Health."

Eric Forth, MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, whose mother died very peacefully in a hospice, said nobody could attempt to justify the difference in funding between adult and children's hospice care.

"It may be historical, but so what? Anyone of any age group who needs this sort of care should have it," he said.

He has already received letters as a result of the News Shopper's campaign and has written to Health Secretary Alan Milburn.

"It sounds as though the issue is off the ground. The more the merrier. I am happy to raise it. It is the kind of issue ministers find pretty difficult to wriggle out of."

Orpington's MP, former Health Minister John Horam, said: "I am putting a question to the health minister. I do think this is a very good cause.

There are currently 23 children's hospices in the country and the number is increasing."

To help the News Shopper campaign, write to your MPs now and urge them to raise the issue with Health Secretary Alan Milburn, to try to bring about a change in NHS funding for children's hospices and hospice care at home.

If you would like to donate money, either to Demelza House or the Ellenor Foundation, you can do so by sending cheques or postal orders to the News Shopper Appeal, Mega House, Crest View Drive, Orpington, Kent BR5 1BT