Huddersfield MP urges Health Secretary to solve hospice funding crisis as local services 'at risk'

Abigail Marlow

26 November 2024 at 2:57 pm·2-min read

MP Harpreet Uppal raising the matter of hospice funding in Parliament — -Credit: (Image: Harpreet Uppal)

With hospice funding in crisis, Huddersfield’s Labour MP, Harpreet Uppal, has taken the matter to Health Secretary, Wes Streeting.

In recent weeks, the local MP hosted a meeting in Parliament with representatives from the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, fellow West Yorkshire MPs and Steve, a local dad whose son is supported by the hospice. Forget Me Not provides life-changing care for children with life-shortening conditions and their families. It offers everything from respite and end-of-life care to creative therapies, hydrotherapy, and bereavement support.

However, like many children’s hospices across the country, Forget Me Not faces a precarious funding future. With only 10 per cent of their annual £6m costs covered by the National Children’s Hospice Grant and other government funding, the hospice relies heavily on community fundraising.

Ms Uppal has continued to advocate for the local children’s hospice in Parliament, raising the issue with the Health Secretary and urging him to take steps to secure sustainable funding. His response acknowledged the pressures on hospices and committed to supporting them through these challenges.

Ms Uppal said: “I will continue to work with Forget Me Not and my parliamentary colleagues to push for long-term funding solutions that ensure these indispensable services remain available for families across Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and the entire country. Forget Me Not is a lifeline for families like Steve’s, and it’s essential we do everything we can to protect the hospice sector.”

Gareth Pierce, CEO of Forget Me Not, said: “The support we provide to families is irreplaceable, yet without sustainable funding, our services are at risk. We were pleased to discuss these issues with West Yorkshire MPs and welcome Harpreet’s continued engagement on this issue, which we hope will help us to secure a future where every family can access the care they need.”

For more information about Forget Me Not can be found here: https://www.forgetmenotchild.co.uk/

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