Children's Hospice funding back but bed cut remains

The hospice made the announcement that it may have to reduce bed capacity due to funding cuts on Tuesday

Funding that was withdrawn from the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice is to be reinstated, the Department of Health (DoH) has said.

The charity announced on Tuesday that it may have to reduce bed capacity due to funding cuts.

DoH said it was told its announcement will not reverse the bed plan.

In a statement on Friday, Health Minister Robin Swann said the £85,000 which had been cut from the budget in June 2023 will be returned.

This will be in place for the rest of the financial year.

The service said it might reduce capacity from seven beds week-round to six beds Monday-Friday and three at the weekend.

A spokesperson for the Children's Hospice said it welcomed the minister's announcement.

However they added: "Because of the many intricate issues the minister has addressed in his response we need time to analyse his proposals before we can provide a comprehensive response."

'Regrettable'

Mr Swann said all of the hospice's core grant of £1.6m is now guaranteed year-on-year to allow staff to plan ahead.

Previously £420,000 of the core grant had not been guaranteed each year but from Friday the minister said it will be recurrent.

Robin Swann said all of the hospice's core grant of £1.6m is now guaranteed year-on-year to allow staff to plan ahead

The charity had previously made up the difference through fundraising which it said was becoming increasingly difficult due to the cost-of-living crisis.

A DoH statement said: "Regrettably, the NI Children's Hospice has advised by department that the restoration of the full £170,000 for this year will not lead to the reversal of the service reduction made public this week."

Mr Swann said he welcomed support and personal interest from the first and deputy first ministers in relation to the hospice, and added he had also written to the Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald.

He said the Children's Hospice and its patent body, the Northern Ireland Hospice, needed to develop "longer-term solutions".

"Given the current absence of a budget for next year, and the well-documented financial uncertainties and challenges for government, my department is at the limit of what it can do right now," he added.

"I am also very conscious that other hospice organisations, and many other health and care providers, are also grappling with growing budget pressures and will be seeking further statutory finance."

'Intricate issues'

The statement from the Children's Hospice said its focus was on "maintaining stability and quality of service for the children and families who rely on us".

The cost of running one bed is approximately £600,000 per year.

The hospice is a local charity that provides specialist palliative care for more than 350 babies, children, and their families each year.

It is the only service of its kind in Northern Ireland and requires more than £20m annually to provide the service.

This week, BBC News NI heard from a number of families who use the service and had called for extra funding to be made available.