MP VIKKI Slade has called for 100 per cent of Integrated Care Board grants to be sent to children’s hospices. 

Julia’s House children’s hospice in Corfe Mullen is one of the lowest funded hospices in the country, receiving eight per cent of its budget from the NHS. 

And to make matters worse, those funding contracts have still not been agreed seven months into the current year, leaving their finances in a “precarious” state. 

The Mid Dorset and North Poole MP told the Commons: “I heard that the nurses would need to be available around the clock, they would receive no funding from the NHS, despite this releasing intensive hospital beds. 

“The cost of end-of-life care was three times their usual per child funding because of the needs of the medication and support at the end of life, and the hospice would have to take this money from the respite, sibling support and regular care programmes to make sure that that family could be given the choice are entitled to under the NHS gold standard. 

“One family has been through this already is that of Annabelle with a genetically inherited condition, she was a frequent visitor to Julia's House where she enjoyed respite stays, made friends, joined the hospice choir and even got to meet a member of her favourite pop band the Vamps. 

“She passed away earlier this year at the age of just 18, and her family now faced the agonising prospect of losing Robbie to the same condition, where he is now receiving Julia's House Care. 

“But it's not just Robbie, their other siblings are also receiving care and support through their counselling and both parents benefit from the respite breaks that will ultimately give them a chance of staying together. 

“I dread to think what will happen to families like this if hospice services are cut back.” 

She said the hospice’s grant hasn’t been confirmed beyond 2025, calling for it to be guarenteed long term to “cover every child that meets the threshold right up to the point of their death”. 

The MP added told Parliament: “I would like to ask that the minister write to the ICBs and insist that they passport 100 per cent of those grants to our precious children's hospices and commit to putting our children's hospices on a sustainable future.” 

After the debate, Mrs Slade said: “I was pleased that the minister offered reassurance about the continuation of the children’s hospice grant, but I was frustrated that despite calls from all parties that this should go direct to the hospice, they are likely to continue funding through the Integrated Care Boards which is what is causing so much delay.”