Budget 2026 includes welcome measures that could ease some of the financial pressure on families caring for children with serious illnesses. However, Together for Short Lives is disappointed that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has failed to invest to end the unacceptable postcode lottery in children’s palliative care.
We now call on ministers to go much further to fill critical gaps in NHS and local authority funding for vital services – and deliver the skilled and experienced workforce that families need.
James Cooper, Associate Director of External Affairs & Membership at Together for Short Lives, said: “Every child deserves many moments of happiness together with their loved ones. But for many families of children who need palliative care, the system is falling short, leaving parents and siblings feeling isolated and alone, and children missing out on life-changing support.
“For far too long, governments have failed to invest in the services and support that would mean more families enjoying the simple pleasures we all take for granted. I am frustrated that, yet again, ministers have not taken bold action to help.
“With the new all-age palliative and end of life care modern service framework now imminent, Budget 2026 was a clear opportunity for the Chancellor to fill the annual £310 million children’s palliative care funding gap in hospitals, communities and children’s hospices. An additional £2.4 million a year is needed now in specialist paediatric palliative medicine training.
There is some good news for families in Budget 2026. We welcome the commitment to replace the Carer’s Allowance earnings cliff edge with a gradual taper. This should mean carers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales no longer lose their entire allowance simply because their earnings pass the limit by a small amount.
On energy costs, the temporary zero VAT rate on domestic electricity, the £100 Household Energy Payment for households in council tax bands A to D in England, as well as additional targeted support from local councils and action on energy debt, are also welcome.
James Cooper said: “These measures will provide families of children with serious illness with some breathing space. But they will not do enough to support them with the soaring costs of powering ventilators, feeding pumps, oxygen concentrators and other essential medical equipment.
“This winter, ministers must consider a social energy tariff for households with high energy use because of disability and better access to rebates for the cost of powering lifesaving devices.
“This isn’t just about quality of life for families and supporting vital services – this is about sound economics too. If the Prime Minister is serious about delivering a preventative state which stops paying for failure, he must urgently help these families to care for their children at home to reduce costly, unplanned, emergency stays in hospital.”
For far too long, governments have failed to invest in the services and support that would mean more families enjoying the simple pleasures we all take for granted. I am frustrated that, yet again, ministers have not taken bold action to help.
James Cooper, Associate Director of External Affairs & Membership