Helen shares Esmay’s story and calls for further hospice support

Helen Morgan shared the inspiring story of a brave two-year-old girl as she renewed her call for the Government to support for hospices and ensure they can continue their vital care.

Speaking after a recent visit to Hope House Children’s Hospice in her North Shropshire constituency, Helen warned that hospices need support with day-to-day costs and exemption from Labour’s National Insurance tax hike.

The MP shared the story of Esmay, a young girl cared for by the hospice. Esmay, who is nearly three years old, has a rare, life-threatening heart condition and underwent open heart surgery at just 11 days old.

She is deaf and has limited vision in one eye, yet with the tireless support of her loving family and the incredible nurses at Hope House, Esmay is now learning to walk. The hospice team has been by Esmay’s side since before she was born and continues to offer vital support to her family as they face an uncertain future.

Hope House are running their Christmas Appeal so they can continue to care for children like Esmay and her family.

Across the country, hospices like Shropshire’s Hope House and Severn Hospice care for 300,000 people every year, but only one third of their funding comes from the NHS. The rest depends on fundraising, leaving hospices unable to plan for the future while they wait for confirmation of government support.

Hope House is facing an annual increase in costs of £177,000 due to the National Insurance hike, while the National Living Wage increase will add a further of £327,000 to its outgoings.

Despite this increase in day-to-day costs, the Government has only announced capital funding to support hospices which will not help to cover the National Insurance hike.

A lack of funding certainty also means that it is difficult to plan or enhance care based on a two-year grant.

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, said, “Esmay’s story is heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure. It was wonderful to meet her and the whole team at Hope House. They provide a lifeline for families like hers, but their ability to offer this care is dependent on how much they can raise.

“The Government’s National Insurance hike, combined with rising costs like the National Living Wage increase, will add a staggering £415,000 to Hope House’s annual expenses. This impacts how many staff they can employ and, ultimately, how many children they can care for.

“This extra funding announced for hospices is limited to capital spending and so will not help with these increased costs. Ministers must exempt hospices from the National Insurance hike and confirm future grant funding so they can plan their budgets and continue delivering their vital work.

“Hospices provide comfort, care, and dignity when families need it most. They deserve proper funding and protection, not added financial strain.”