08-02-2025
Four MPs visit North East baby hospice struggling to survive on local fundraising
Zoe's Place baby hospice in Middlesbrough welcomed four local MPs as they highlighted the need for greater financial support to sustain and expand its services.
Anna Turley (MP for Redcar), Luke Myer (MP for Middlesbrough South and Cleveland), Andy McDonald (MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East), and Chris McDonald (MP for Stockton North) visited the hospice to witness firsthand the essential care provided to some of the region's most vulnerable children.
MPs around the table with the leadership team of Zoe's Place Middlesbrough (Image: ZOE'S PLACE) The visit, on Friday (February 7), provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges faced by the hospice, particularly around funding and long-term sustainability, to ensure families continue to receive the vital care they rely on.
With 70 per cent of its income dependent on local fundraising, Zoe's Place, like many other children's hospices, faces growing financial pressures.
The announcements in last year's Budget of increased Employers NI and minimum wage costs mean that they cannot increase their opening hours, leaving families waiting for the specialist care they desperately need.
MPs with Joan Stainsby Exec Trustee (Image: ZOE'S PLACE) While demand for its services remains high, funding constraints mean the hospice cannot currently recruit additional staff, thereby limiting its capacity to offer more support to families in the region.
Despite these challenges, Zoe's Place remains committed to delivering the highest standard of care, offering palliative and respite support that brings comfort, relief, and joy to families facing incredibly difficult circumstances.
MPs being given a tour round the hospice by Deputy Head of Care, Ashleigh Rickards (Image: ZOE'S PLACE) The MPs' visit helped highlight the need for more equitable and sustainable funding for children's hospices and explored ways to work together to safeguard these essential services into the future.
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Joan Stainsby, Executive Trustee at Zoe's Place, said: 'At Zoe's Place, we are dedicated to creating a warm, loving environment for babies and young children with complex medical needs.
"We know how much our care means to the families we support, and we want to ensure we can continue providing this essential service for years to come.
"We are grateful for the opportunity to welcome local MPs and discuss how we can work together to strengthen and improve hospice care for the future.'
