Over the last twenty years, the concept of a ‘good death’ has become much more widespread. Hospices have become an important part of their local communities, and are well-supported by local people who realise their importance. Government help, especially for children’s hospices, has not always been forthcoming though. Children’s hospices are an especially new appearance on the scene. They are quite different from adult hospices, since they are not primarily seen simply as ‘places to die’ so much as places where families of children with life-limiting conditions can find respite care and support. They are slowly opening across the country, but only as a result of private initiative. Because they are subject to central planning, the current Government regards them as something of an irritant, and their public funding is considerably less than for adult hospices.

Children’s hospices receive barely a quarter of the funding adult hospices tend to receive, and some receive almost nothing other than what they can raise under their own steam. The Government did launch some emergency funding but that ends in 2009, with no sign of anything further. In Brian House’s case, it amounted to only £185,000 per annum anyway – only a small fraction of their annual running costs.

There is a trap that we can fall into, though, and that is to nationalise compassion. Government should not be about forcing voluntary groups to adapt their provision to fit a tight funding straightjacket of the Government’s design just to qualify for money. It is not about amending objectives in order to qualify for funding. Government needs a light touch in this regard.

This is not something I have thought of just last week. Back before the 2001 election, I formulated the Party’s hospice policy. Extensive consultation with the hospice movement had indicated that whilst they felt current funding formulas were unfair, they were also concerned that too much state funding would compromise their independence. We therefore felt that it was appropriate to ensure that funding was increased to about 40% so that the medical costs of hospice activity were covered, but that hospices would then be free to raise money as before in order to provide optional extras.

When all is said and done, though, what is really important to remember are the needs of the children and families who benefit from places like Brian House.

It is easy for a politician to go “something must be done”, but in this case I do believe that something must be done. Having attended a special school myself in the early years of my education, I know how important respite care is to families, and how challenging it can be caring for the profoundly disabled. If elected the MP for Blackpool North & Cleveleys, the issue of children’s hospices will be at the very top of my agenda.