Latest news with #Children'sHospiceWeek
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Tŷ Hafan and Tŷ Gobaith appeal for increased funding
Tŷ Hafan and Tŷ Gobaith want at least 25 per cent of care costs to be funded by 2025, rising to 30 per cent by 2030. They believe this would mean increasing statutory support from £2.3 million to around £3.2 million in 2025/26, and close to £5 million by 2030/31. Tŷ Gobaith CEO, Andy Goldsmith, said: "Across Wales, children with life-threatening conditions are not getting the support that they and their families need." He added that increased funding would allow hospices to bring "essential care closer to home, particularly in remote rural communities". Tŷ Hafan CEO, Irfon Rees, said: "This is not about children's hospices competing with the NHS for funding. "With most of the hospice care funded by charitable donations, the non-profit, charitable children's hospices are a cost-effective and important partner to the NHS and local government. "We are incredibly grateful to the Welsh Government for the one-off funding in 2024/25 and the uplift in funding for hospices in the 2025/26 budget, but there is no certainty of this funding beyond this Senedd." The request comes ahead of national Children's Hospice Week, which runs from June 16 to June 22. The two hospices hope that by then, at least one leading political party will have made the pledge to prioritise children with life-shortening conditions.
Business News Wales
4 days ago
- Health
- Business News Wales
Children's Hospices Urge Parties to Pledge to Fair and Sustainable Funding
Tŷ Hafan nurse Emma, Talis and dad Ryan Wales' two children's hospices are calling on all Welsh political parties to pledge to stand up for children with life-shortening conditions ahead of this year's national Children's Hospice Week. Tŷ Hafan and Tŷ Gobaith want politicians to pledge to include fair and sustainable funding for children's hospices in their party manifestos – committing to funding at least 25% of care costs in 2025, rising to 30% in 2030. In real terms, this pledge means raising statutory support for children's hospices from the £2.3 million they expect to receive in 2025/26 to around £3.2 million in the same year, and then stepping this up to just under £5 million by 2030/31. It's a staged uplift of £2.7 million over four years, and the hospices say it would give them the certainty they need to recruit and retain the specialist teams that children and families rely on every day. Tŷ Gobaith Chief Executive Andy Goldsmith explained that the number of children with life-threatening conditions in Wales has increased significantly over the last decade. These children have increasingly complex medical needs, and their families are facing growing challenges, as NHS and local authority services come under increasing pressure. 'Across Wales children with life-threatening conditions are not getting the support that they and their families need, and the children's hospices are committed to making sure that every child and family who could benefit from our support is able to access services,' he added. 'To achieve this, we need to have confidence in our future funding to invest in services and to employ the highly skilled nurses and health care professionals required. That is why fair and sustainable funding is so vital. 'We want to bring essential care closer to home, particularly in remote rural communities. At the moment accessing support can be a postcode lottery and that is wrong. We need to help every child with a life-threatening condition to live their best life, receive the best care at end of life, and to support families to go on living beyond.' Tŷ Hafan Chief Executive Irfon Rees agreed: 'This is not about children's hospices competing with the NHS for funding. The children's hospices in Wales play a critical role in the health and wellbeing of some of Wales most vulnerable and medically complex children. With most of the hospice care funded by charitable donations, the non-profit, charitable children's hospices are a cost effective and important partner to the NHS and local government. 'With costs rising and increasing need, we are asking for ever more of our incredible donors and supporters and we believe it is only fair that the next Welsh Government commit to this partnership and to strike a fair balance between state funding and charitable donations. 'We are incredibly grateful to the Welsh Government for the one-off funding in 2024/25 and the uplift in funding for hospices in the 2025/26 budget, but there is no certainty of this funding beyond this Senedd.' Children's Hospice Week runs from June 16 – 22 this year, by which time the two hospices hope at least one of the leading political parties will have made the pledge
Irish Independent
29-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Limerick mum opens up about daughter's rare diagnosis and the vital help of LauraLynn service
Grazyna from Limerick provides round-the-clock care for her 13-year-old daughter Malgosia, who has a rare neurological disorder. Speaking during Children's Hospice Week, she explains how LauraLynn's support has become 'life-changing' for their family Today at 02:00 After a successful Children's Hospice Week, one Limerick family is opening up about the reality of caring for a child with complex needs, and the vital role LauraLynn plays in helping them cope. The Musical family are one of 24 families in Limerick using LauraLynn's services, and Grazyna, mum to 13-year-old Malgosia, who requires round-the-clock care, says life after her diagnosis is 'not just different for me or her dad, but my other two girls too.'
RTÉ News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Watch: news2day Thursday, 22 May 2025
Raising money for a great cause. An amazing discovery at one school. Plus, all the big news stories of the day! Stream the show on RTÉ Player or watch it now by pressing play on the image above. This is Children's Hospice Week, so Barry went along to a school who were dressing up as their heroes in aid of Laura Lynn House, Ireland's children's hospice - as part of a fundraiser taking place in schools across the country. A relic of a saint which is believed to date from the second or third century has been found by the 5th year students in St Vincent's Secondary School in Glasnevin The surprise discovery of a vial of blood of Saint Hilarii was found by a group of students as they helped with preparations for a graduation ceremony last week. RTÉ News' Samantha Libreri has the story! And Florence is in studio with a round-up of all the other stories making headline, as well as a fun animal one too!
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Huge challenges for Cork families of children with palliative care needs
There are 64 families in Cork currently using LauraLynn's services. LauraLynn, Ireland's only Children's Hospice has released stark findings from two new surveys looking at the many challenges faced by families caring for a child with palliative care needs. The findings give a strong picture of the emotional, psychological, and financial impact and the unprecedented administrative burdens placed on families. Children's Hospice Week which runs from Sunday, May 18 to Saturday, May 24 raises awareness about the lived experiences of children with life-limiting conditions and their families. One of the surveys, carried out by LauraLynn in April 2025 unveiled the following from respondents: • 84% feel isolated in their caregiving role. • 90% worry about the emotional impact on siblings. • 86% wish they had more time to be a parent rather than a carer. • 68% find it challenging to focus on parenting. Other findings from the survey indicated that 77% of respondents care for more than 12 hours per day, 95% feel overwhelmed by caregiving responsibilities, 95% report that caregiving impacts their sleep quality and 76% care for their child through the night. More results from the survey found that 83% worry about not spending enough time with other children, 75% find it challenging to balance the needs of siblings and 55% find the psychological impact on siblings challenging. From a financial perspective, the survey found that 86% say caregiving impacts their finances, 83% had to give up work and 91% had to reduce work hours, 60% feel financial supports are inadequate and 63% find the financial implications challenging. In February 2025, researchers at LauraLynn in partnership with UCD School of Psychology completed another survey to measure the administrative burden on parents. This was the very first-time parents had been asked to voice the impact of these specific administrative demands. They found that families spend an average total of 17.5 hours per week on administrative tasks relating to their child's care, 96% say it affects their mood, 93% report increased stress levels, 86% say these tasks negatively impact their energy levels and 71% feel less confident in their ability to cope. CEO Kerry McLavery said: 'At LauraLynn it is so important for us to ask, listen to and understand what our families really need to make things a little bit better for them. It helps us provide the right care and support through the toughest journey whether that be at the hospice, in hospital or in the comfort of a child's home. 'Together with your support we can meet the needs of these wonderful children and families as best as possible. They deserve nothing less,' she added. Children's Hospice Week is dedicated to raising awareness for children's hospice and palliative care in Ireland. This year's theme is 'Every Step, Every Challenge, Together.' This Children's Hospice Week, LauraLynn is asking the public to help bring care and colour to these families by donating. To donate please go to
