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Gareth’s blog: Why I went to Westminster

In his latest blog, our CEO shares why he was in Westminster earlier this month with hospice leaders from across the country.

Gareth’s blog: Why I went to Westminster – and why it matters

Earlier this month, I went to Westminster with hospice leaders from across the country as part of Hospice UK’s Day of Action.

We were there to speak directly to MPs about the reality facing hospices. And as part of the day, we delivered a joint letter to Downing Street, setting out clearly what is happening on the ground, and why urgent action is needed.

I was proud to be there representing Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice. I was also there because the situation has reached a point where we need to be clear about the risks facing the hospice movement, and not speaking up would be the wrong thing to do.

A club no one wants to join

More than 20 hospices who took part that day have already been forced to cut services in the last 14 months.

It’s a club no one ever wants to be a member of. But it’s one that is growing.

These are decisions taken reluctantly and painfully by organisations that exist to care for people at their most vulnerable. When hospices are forced to make cuts, it isn’t abstract or theoretical. It means fewer families supported, reduced packages of care, longer waits, and more pressure on an NHS already under strain.

What we asked for – and why

Hospices came together around Hospice UK’s four‑point plan for fair funding. It’s not radical. It’s practical. And it’s rooted in reality.

At its heart is a simple message: hospice care is essential, not optional – and it needs funding that reflects that.

The plan calls for:

  • Full funding for the specialist palliative care hospices provide
  • Fair, multi‑year NHS contracts based on real costs
  • Proper funding so hospice staff can receive the same pay rises as NHS colleagues
  • National accountability so access to care doesn’t depend on your postcode

This isn’t about asking for special treatment. It’s about sustainability. Without change, more hospices will be pushed into making choices no one should have to make.

Why this matters for children’s hospices

For children’s hospices, the challenge is even sharper.

We don’t just provide end‑of‑life care. We support babies, children and young people with complex, life‑shortening conditions over many years – alongside their parents, siblings and wider families.

That care is highly specialist. It is intensive. And it lasts as long as families need us.

Yet children’s hospice statutory funding is still way short of where it needs to be, with hospices needing to rely too heavily on charitable income to survive. That gap grows wider as costs rise and demand increases.

At Forget Me Not, we are proud of what we provide; care at home and in the hospice, emotional and psychological support, and being there for families before, during and after loss. But pride alone doesn’t pay the bills. Sustainability matters.

At Forget Me Not, we are proud of what we provide; care at home and in the hospice, emotional and psychological support, and being there for families before, during and after loss. But pride alone doesn’t pay the bills. Sustainability matters.

Gareth Pierce, CEO

What stayed with me

What struck me most on the day wasn’t anger. It was determination and resilience.

Determination from hospice leaders who are doing everything possible to protect care now, while deeply worried about what the future holds if nothing changes.

Communities are extraordinary in how they support their local hospices. We see that generosity every day. But communities cannot do this alone. Delivering the letter to Downing Street was about saying that clearly, together.

Hospices are charities, but the vital care we provide should be funded in a far more sustainable and consistent way. 

Standing up for the future

I went to Westminster because the children and families we support need their voices heard in national conversations about health and care.

Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice will continue to speak up, both locally and nationally for funding that allows us to plan, to retain skilled staff, and to be here for families for as long as they need us.

We owe that to the families who rely on us today. And to those who will need hospice care in the years to come.

Thank you for standing with us. Your support really matters. 

Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice will continue to speak up, both locally and nationally for funding that allows us to plan, to retain skilled staff, and to be here for families for as long as they need us.

Gareth Pierce, CEO