Children's hospice shuts days before Christmas

A children's hospice that has supported children living with complex life-limiting conditions for 25 yearshas closed just days before Christmas.

Richard House in Newham, east London, provides specialist care to more than 300 families - offering services such as residential care, transition from hospital to home, bereavement support and end-of-life care.

NHS North East London said the hospice's board had taken the decision and the facility would close on 18 December.

Richard House has been approached for comment. However, a statement briefly published on the hospice's website, which was later removed, said the decision followed "a comprehensive strategic review by the board of trustees".

It added that "a merger with another children's hospice, which had been under active consideration, is not possible".

Among those who will be affected by the hospice's closure is Kareema and her 15-year-old son Jayden, who has received support there for the last nine years.

Jayden has a rare life-limiting condition called Lowe syndrome, which only a handful of people in the UK have.

Kareema, from Tower Hamlets, said families were told at the end of November about a pause in services but were "never under any impression it would stop completely".

She said the "trustees have tried to do a job which is extremely difficult" but the news of the closure "is a shock to all the community".

Kareema said she learned of the closure after another parent saw a sign in the Richard House Upminster charity shop, also due to close.

"It's a very delicate and sensitive matter to handle, but I think transparency and honesty would have really been appreciated," she said.

"It's us that has to go about our daily lives now, stressing about all the practicalities."

Emma also uses the service with her son Alexander, six, who has short bowel syndrome and is on life support every night.

"He is devastated at the moment because this is his safe place," she said.

An online petition calling for the hospice to remain open has gathered more than 1,340 signatures.

A spokesperson for NHS North East London said the hospice's trustees had notified them "that they believe the challenges it faces are simply too great".

"This is obviously an incredibly sad and difficult time for all those who have used Richard House services over the years and for Richard House colleagues too," the spokesperson added.

"We continue to support them and will work closely with Haven House to finalise plans for the short, medium and long term to ensure ongoing support for children and families."

Richard House trustees have confirmed that Haven House Children's Hospice in Woodford Green will take on the care of children and families who were supported by Richard House - about 10 miles away from the original location.

Justin Derbyshire, chief executive of Haven House, said: "We know how much Richard House has meant to families over the years. We are humbled to carry forward this legacy and promise to walk alongside every child and parent with care, compassion, and respect."

Richard House previously said the combined impact of the cost-of-living crisis, the pandemic and soaring inflation had had a devastating effect on fundraising efforts.

Less than a third of the hospice's funding comes from the NHS, with the rest coming from donations.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the current government had made the "biggest investment" in hospices in a generation - £100m – to improve hospice facilities.

They said the government had also committed £80m revenue funding for children's and young people's hospices over three years.

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