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Budget offers little COVID recovery hope for seriously ill children

News and comment

Together for Short Lives is disappointed that Chancellor Rishi Sunak has failed to prioritise a funded plan to help seriously ill children and their families recover from the devastating impact of the COVID pandemic.

As we set out in our representation to HM Treasury earlier this year, Budget 2021 was a chance for ministers to level the system up for seriously ill children and their families. We asked for spending which would make sure that:

  • children’s palliative care is funded equitably and sustainably by the NHS and local authorities
  • seriously ill children can access the palliative care services they and their families need, when and where they need it, including out of hours and at weekends
  • a workforce plan is put in place to make sure seriously ill children can access professionals with the skills and experience needed to provide palliative care.

Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives, said:

“Rishi Sunak has today missed an important opportunity to help seriously ill children and their families recover from the impact of the pandemic. New data published today (3 March) shows that even without COVID, the impact of caring for seriously ill children on parents’ health is huge. Survey after survey shows that the combination of shielding and lockdown is exacerbating this. Services that families have relied on, including those provided by charities including children’s hospices, face huge challenges in remaining sustainable amid the ongoing economic shock.

“It is becoming clearer that the impact of this pandemic will be felt for many years to come. However, seriously ill children do not have time to wait for the economy to recover. They need their services to restart now, to have immediate access to sustainable short breaks for respite and a plan to provide them with access to 24/7 palliative care. If we fail to support them soon, more and more families will reach breaking point. In the short term, this will increase demand for emergency health and care. In the long term, it will leave an avoidable legacy of poor physical and mental health among parents and siblings which could last decades.”

"Seriously ill children do not have time to wait for the economy to recover. They need their services to restart now, to have immediate access to sustainable short breaks for respite and a plan to provide them with access to 24/7 palliative care."

Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives

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Comments

  1. Absolutely the government should be prioritising those most in need in society. This goes without saying. These families are remarkable caring for their children 24/7. As a Palliative care Community NHS service we do as much as we can do to support and have maintained this essential service. We would not be in a position to support these families as well as we do without the joint working with the Children’s hospices. I urge the government to support this valuable and essential service to continue during and following the pandemic.

    Date
    5 March, 2021
    Author
    Lucia Ashton
  2. Rishi, you have no idea of the stress these families go through on a daily basis let alone with the addition of the pandemic. The children’s hospices which might have provided this kind of care and covered your underfunding no longer have the funds to reach out to all the families who need support with dedicated palliative care, let alone breaks for parents who reach breaking point. Sort this out now! Please .

    Date
    3 March, 2021
    Author
    Kristina Pemberton
  3. Some of the most vulnerable in society but receiving very little. Perhaps the Chancellor needs to look again At how he can help these people before giving millions to hospitality or travel firms.

    Date
    3 March, 2021
    Author
    Iain Pemberton