Children’s and young people’s hospices in England will receive nearly £80 million in funding over the next three years, providing long-term certainty for vital services that support seriously ill children and their families. This multi-year settlement builds on the government’s previous £100 million investment, the largest in a generation, and will ensure that thousands of children continue to receive compassionate care across the country. The funding will be adjusted for inflation and distributed through local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) on behalf of NHS England.
Around 99,000 children in the UK are living with life-limiting conditions such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, and brain or spinal injuries, a number that has tripled in the past 20 years. Hospices play a crucial role in providing care, support, and wraparound services for these children and their families. This three-year commitment allows hospices to plan ahead and continue delivering high-quality, compassionate care during the most challenging times.
As part of the government’s 10-Year Health Plan, more care will be shifted from hospitals into the community to ensure patients receive personalised care in the most appropriate settings. The funding will enable hospices to provide a range of services including respite care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and 24/7 nursing support, both in hospices and in children’s homes.
The multi-year settlement is designed to create a consistent national approach to funding, reducing disparities in palliative care services across the country. It ensures that local populations have access to the support they need, while giving hospices financial stability to plan and expand their services.
Leaders from the hospice sector welcomed the announcement, highlighting that the funding will allow hospices to continue supporting families, deliver more comprehensive care, and play a central role in the ongoing shift toward community-based healthcare. Individual hospice allocations for the next three years will be published in due course, based on new prevalence data received by NHS England.
