A MOTION calling for more funding for children’s hospice care and to guarantee funding includes the last six weeks of palliative care was passed unanimously at a meeting of full council.

The motion, brough forward by the Liberal Democrats, asked the Dorset Integrated Care Board to increase this funding to Julia’s House.

Councillor Oliver Walters called on other council leaders in the south west to take heed of the critical financial situation the hospice faces.

Despite the size of the hospice charity, it is one of the least state funded in England.

Cllr Walters said: “Julia’s House need our help.

“They are facing a budget gap of around £1million this year and next.

“Just eight per cent of their funding comes from Government, delivered through the Dorset Integrated Care Board.

“Despite offering their services throughout Dorset and Wiltshire they receive no commissioned funding from Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board.

“Since 2021/2022 NHS Funding for Children’s Hospices in England has plummeted by 31 per cent.

“At the same time charitable spending has risen by 15 per cent. The truth is, families in our country would be totally lost without children’s hospices.”

Cllr Oliver Walters (Image: BCP Council/Andy Beeson-Brackstone)

Former council leader and newly elected MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Vikki Slade, supported the motion.

“I’ve been privileged to visit Julia’s House on many occasions over the last 15 years including a trip last year to take the leader of the Lib Dems Sir Ed Davey to meet the chief executive and the families supported by them,” she said. “It is unthinkable that the final weeks that are so precious and so sensitively provided for by Julia’s House and other charities sees the charity, and others like them, having to fundraise to provide this support.

“Year on year more children are surviving with life-limiting conditions thanks to the incredible progress made in medical science but the respite services are not being provided to ensure that the families receive their care.

“We must re-think respite care funding.

“This formed a significant part of the Lib Dem national campaign and our amendment to the King’s Speech.

“The recent APPG on hospice care noted that if the hospice sector collapsed end of life care would fall to the NHS to fund resulting in an estimated additional cost of £484 million a year.

“It is also called on Integrated Care Boards to not only uplift funding but to ensure they receive multiyear contracts.”