Children’s Hospices: Funding

Joshua Reynolds Excerpts

Wednesday 30th October 2024 Westminster Hall

[Mr Joshua Reynolds (Maidenhead) (LD)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg.

I thank the hon. Member for Liverpool West Derby (Ian Byrne) for securing this important debate. Children’s hospices provide an essential service, offering specialised care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. However, they are not just a place of medical care; they are sanctuaries of love, comfort and dignity, ensuring that every child can experience joy and the best possible quality of life.

Nevertheless, like many institutions in the UK, children’s hospices have been struggling over the past few years. In 2023-24, they spent 15% more than they did in 2021-22 while receiving 31% less funding from ICBs and 11% less from local authorities. Compounding that situation is the fact that since 2019-20 there has been a 41% increase in the number of children receiving end of life care in hospices.

Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service in Maidenhead is a shining example of children’s hospices. In November 2001, Alexander Devine was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of four. At that point, his whole family became consumed by hospital appointments, doctors, nurses, operations, treatments and scans. Sadly, four and a half years later, Alexander died, aged eight. The Devine family knew clearly at that point that Berkshire needed its own children’s hospice and the Alexander Devine hospice has become a lifeline for countless families across Berkshire, bringing together the community and the community’s compassion.

The impact that Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service has on the community is profound. In the last year, it has provided over 18,000 hours of care and support for families, which is not just a statistic for those families; it means countless moments of relief and joy, and the creation of precious memories for families, all of whom have challenging lives. However, that is set against the backdrop that 83% of the hospice’s funding comes from donations, fundraising and gifts in wills. The reliance on charitable contributions underscores the precarious nature of funding in this sector.

We understand that children’s hospices are not luxuries but necessities, filling a critical gap in our healthcare system. However, if they are to do that, we need to fund them properly. I will not repeat the calls on the Minister that every other speaker has made today, but it is clear that we need to see forward movement. I am really hopeful that our wishes this morning will be reflected in the Budget later.

I close by reflecting on the words of Fiona and John Devine:

“The word ‘hospice’ is not a word that many relate to with happy thoughts; I much prefer the Latin ‘a resting place on life’s journey’. I know from my experience that you cannot go into a children’s hospice and not be filled instantly with love, laughter, happiness and tears.”

Access to Primary Healthcare

Joshua Reynolds Excerpts

Wednesday 16th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Joshua Reynolds (Maidenhead) (LD)]

In my constituency, the proposed GP health hub on Reform Road has been cancelled. The land that is needed is owned by the local council, of which I am a member, as is declared in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, and the council was ready to sell it. However, after a long wait, Frimley integrated care board scrapped its plans because of rising costs and interest rates. That leaves a significant gap in our healthcare infrastructure. With thousands of new homes being planned and built, we need GP facilities to match, but with the ICB pulling out, it is Maidenhead residents who will suffer.

Residents in Binfield in my constituency have no better luck getting a GP appointment, with local GP surgeries saying, “Don’t bother trying to ring at 8 am, you will not get an appointment. Don’t even try.” St Mark’s hospital in my constituency is a cornerstone of our local community, and 25 years ago it was the local Liberal Democrats who battled to bring the urgent care centre to St Mark’s in Maidenhead. However, at the beginning of the pandemic the walk-in centre was closed on what we were told was a temporary basis. To date it is yet to reopen, and no matter how much we have tried, we have been told that the system is good enough without it.

I am a local lad from my constituency, and when I was at primary school I fell over and hurt myself, and my mum hobbled me to St Mark’s. Within an hour, they had done an X-ray, put me in a cast and sent me on my way home on crutches. Compare that with the situation now, with residents telling me time and again that they struggle to get the care that they need when they need it. Grandchildren who have had a bang on the head turn up at St Mark’s to be told to go to Wexham Park in Slough, where they have a 15-hour wait in A&E. Children cut a finger open, and instead of being able to take a five-minute trip up the road, they have to endure a 60-minute rush-hour drive to Slough.

Walk-in urgent care centres are beneficial for our local communities because they allow us to take the pressure off A&E and the major hospitals and provide that care locally. It is not a difficult concept. Allowing people to get the care they need, see their GPs or pharmacists, and use the walk-in centre at St Mark’s will mean fewer people in accident and emergency, saving hospital admissions, freeing up beds for those who need them and, importantly, saving the NHS money.

The Liberal Democrats and our hard-working local champions will always be there for the NHS and champion primary care. We are committed to reversing the decline in GP numbers and ensuring that all our communities have access to the primary care they need when they need it. The challenges are significant, but they are not insurmountable, and with the right policies and funding, we can turn the tide on this and get people the care they need.