Date published: 17 March 2016 by Jessica Homer

Following Wednesday’s Budget announcement, Rainbow Trust is disappointed to note that there was a complete lack of help announced for the families we support. Rainbow Trust feels that the Government has missed another opportunity to provide desperately needed long term, sustainable funding for children’s palliative care

Anne Harris, Rainbow Trust Director of Care said,

“We feel let down that the Budget speech once again failed to secure sustainable funding for children’s palliative care. We do welcome the announcement of funding for children’s hospitals, especially the first centre for children with rare diseases and undiagnosed conditions in Birmingham. However, we know from our 30 years’ experience that having a seriously ill child can put immense strain on the whole family’s ability to cope.

“We urge government to recognise the vital role of social palliative care. We hope we can look to a future where families caring for a seriously ill child are not neglected and forgotten but instead provided with emotional, practical and financial support to help them in their time of greatest need.”