Wales’ two children’s hospices have thanked Senedd members for their support during Children’s Hospice Week, after they unfurled a giant butterfly on the steps of the Senedd. Tŷ Gobaith and Tŷ Hafan expressed their gratitude to the 14 MSs who supported them, calling for the Welsh Government to pledge sustainable funding. The displayed butterfly, is part of their #ReachEveryChild campaign.
It is made up of 3,655 small butterflies, which represent the number of children in Wales with life-shortening conditions. Creative contributions from children being cared for by the hospices, as well as staff and volunteers, are integrated into this meaningful piece. Despite Tŷ Hafan and Tŷ Gobaith currently supporting one in every 10 Welsh children diagnosed with a life-shortening condition, only 12 per cent of their combined annual care costs are received annually from the Welsh Government.
In stark comparison, children’s hospices across England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland receive between 30 per cent and 50 per cent of their yearly care costs from their respective governments. Irfon Rees, chief executive of Tŷ Hafan, said: "In 2021/22 Welsh Government met our ask to fund 21% of our care costs for Wales’ two children’s hospices. "However, in real terms, this recurrent funding has since fallen to just under 12% of hospice care costs.
" He added: "We need Welsh Government funding to keep pace with the need for, and costs of, our services." Adding to this plea, Andy G.
