Stephen used the opportunity to highlight the discrepancy between funding for adult hospices, which currently receive 28-30% of their core funding from central government, compared to only 5% for children's hospices. 15 of the 38 children's hospices nationwide receive no government money at all - even though some of the services they provide are supposed to be available for free on the NHS.
In particular, he highlighted the case of the new Charlton Farm hospice in Wraxall, which will serve children from Bristol West. During the debate Stephen said "I was pleased recently to attend a fundraising ball; it will contribute in a small way towards the costs of running the hospice, but as has been mentioned, such charitable fundraising is competing with ever-growing demands from other parts of health care system and from other charities that are trying to raise funds. The children's hospital in Bristol is having a Wallace and Gromit appeal to raise funds, while the hospice is having its Babe's Big appeal. We therefore have well-known children's characters competing to raise funds for essentially the same sort of care for children."
To read the full text of Stephen's speech use the Speeches link on the left.
