Latest news with #IrfonRees
South Wales Argus
2 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.
South Wales Argus
12-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Tŷ Hafan 'doing excellent job', says inspection report
Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice, one of only two children's hospices in Wales, was assessed in October last year by a five-strong team from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW). The inspection report, published in January, highlighted the "dedicated and skilled staff" at the hospice, as well as the "strong leadership" and "excellent culture." The inspectors found that the hospice provided "individualised care" and "dignified care" to its patients, as well as "good quality, nutritious food" and "bespoke activities." The hospice was also praised for its "excellent multi-disciplinary working" and "strong governance and audit programme." The inspectors spoke to families who use the hospice, who said that Tŷ Hafan had given them "a quality of life again" and that they "don't know where we would be without them." The families said that the hospice "only ever want the best for our children" and that "it feels like they are part of the family." Irfon Rees, Tŷ Hafan's chief executive (Image: Ty Hafan) Irfon Rees, Tŷ Hafan's chief executive, said: "HIW is the independent inspectorate and regulator of healthcare in Wales. "Last October a five-strong team from HIW undertook a two-day on site planned inspection of Tŷ Hafan to assess the quality of our work. "In January, HIW published 'Independent Healthcare Inspection Report (Announced) Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice, Sully'. "We shared the outcomes from this inspection with colleagues in February at our annual staff conference. "At Tŷ Hafan, we're proud of what we do and how we do it and grateful that our continual striving to deliver the highest possible standards of care and support for all has been formally recognised by HIW. "This latest HIW Inspection Report shows that families and professionals can have confidence in the services Tŷ Hafan provides, that we are committed to continuous quality improvement and that our staff are fulfilled and happy. "Ultimately this report shows that Tŷ Hafan is doing an excellent job in providing care and support for children with life-shortening conditions and their families, and, it is a great organisation to work for. "This is a testament to the hard work, dedication and care of all of my colleagues and I thank them all from the bottom of my heart." However, Mr Rees said that the hospice is "not resting on our laurels" and that there is "so much more to do." He said: "The publication in 2023 of our Prevalence and Complexity Report shows that currently we are only able to reach one in every ten children with a life-shortening condition who could benefit from our services. "Tŷ Hafan's ambition is that when a child's life will be short, no family should have to live it on their own. "We have so much more to do and I invite everyone to support us in whatever way they can so that we can reach every child and family who needs us." The hospice provides specialist palliative care, addressing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of each family member. From diagnosis to bereavement, Tŷ Hafan is there for the family as long as they need, through life, death, and beyond. Tŷ Hafan offers families end-of-life care and services such as family support, complementary therapy, music therapy, and outreach play both within the hospice and in the family home. A child and their family can be referred to Tŷ Hafan at the time of diagnosis, with care and support being provided throughout the course of the child's condition, which can be for many years. The children and young people who access Tŷ Hafan's services suffer from a broad range of conditions, many with profound and complex medical needs. Some of the conditions are so rare they haven't been named. For more information and to make a donation, go to
Business News Wales
08-05-2025
- Health
- Business News Wales
Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice Unveils Latest Inspection Report
Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice has shared its most recent Independent Healthcare Inspection Report by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) ahead of International Nurses Day on May 12. The HIW inspectors found 'compassionate care delivered by dedicated and skilled staff supported by strong leadership and an excellent culture'. In particular the HIW team found: Happy children Satisfied families Individualised care Good quality, nutritious food Excellent multi-disciplinary working Strong governance and audit programme Bespoke activities Dignified care Tŷ Hafan Chief Executive Irfon Rees said: 'HIW is the independent inspectorate and regulator of healthcare in Wales. Last October a five-strong team from HIW undertook a two-day on site planned inspection of Tŷ Hafan to assess the quality of our work. 'In January, HIW published 'Independent Healthcare Inspection Report (Announced) Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice, Sully'. We shared the outcomes from this inspection with colleagues in February at our annual staff conference. 'At Tŷ Hafan, we're proud of what we do and how we do it and grateful that our continual striving to deliver the highest possible standards of care and support for all has been formally recognised by HIW. 'International Nurses Day feels like a good opportunity to remind ourselves of this recognition and to proactively share the findings of this report more widely.' Two of the families the HIW inspectors spoke to said: 'The hospice has given my daughter and us as a family a quality of life again. They have cared for us all as a family and helped my daughter's pain tremendously. I don't know where we would be without them.' 'Our son (and our family) have been cared for by Tŷ Hafan for 12 years. Everyone involved in the charity is lovely and only ever want the best for our children. It feels like they are part of the family.' Irfon Rees said: 'This latest HIW Inspection Report shows that families and professionals can have confidence in the services Tŷ Hafan provides, that we are committed to continuous quality improvement and that our staff are fulfilled and happy. 'Ultimately this report shows that Tŷ Hafan is doing an excellent job in providing care and support for children with life-shortening conditions and their families, and it is a great organisation to work for.'
