Debate contribution: Children’s Hospice: Funding

Debate contribution by Mr Phillip Brett on 14 October 2024.

MLA

Mr Phillip Brett

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

14 October 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Children’s Hospice: Funding

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4590307

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you very much indeed, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank the House for a very useful debate. Members from across the House have spoken eloquently about the importance of the hospice service, and I know that many of the staff, patients and, indeed, families who are impacted on by the hospice's work are watching the debate and will be heartened by many of the remarks that have been made. As someone who represents North Belfast, I am immensely proud that the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice is based in our constituency. As Members across the House pointed out, its services and work have an impact on the lives of people right across our Province. The hospice is a very special place. I am delighted to have worked alongside it and to have supported it for many years. One of my first acts as a councillor was to help ensure, alongside Councillor Billy Webb, that the Children's Hospice was awarded the freedom of the borough by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. Billy Webb continues to be an honorary president of the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice, and I pay tribute to him as a North Belfast constituent for the work that he continues to do, day and daily, to raise vital funds for the hospice. It is easy to say that the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice does important work, but, when we look at the numbers detailing the work that it does, we see that there is a family and a patient behind every single story. On average each year, its nursing services carry out 7,000 unique appointments; 725 families from the length and breadth of Northern Ireland receive a visit and support from the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice; and around 100 families feel the benefit of the family counselling service that it runs. I must say that the ongoing discussion on the issue is hugely frustrating, as is the fact that we have not got to a solution or proposals for it. I have tabled a number of questions for written answer on it, and I continue to receive contradictory replies. On 2 February this year, I received a response from the then Minister of Health to say that his officials were working on new funding proposals for the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice. On 15 March 2024, I was told by the then Health Minister that his officials would meet the Children's Hospice on 3 April and 9 May and would bring forward new funding proposals. On 26 March, I was told by the then Minister for Health that discussions would be ongoing with the Finance Minister to make a bid for additional funding. Responses from the Finance Minister make clear that she had:

"not received a specific request for additional funding for the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice."

Those words stand in stark contrast to some of the information that I have received to date. I encourage the Minister to reflect on the previous Minister's answers as we continue to try to move the situation forward. It is important that we all put our best foot forward and recognise the hospice's important role, but we now need to step up to the mark. Mr Kingston, who ran a marathon recently for the Northern Ireland Hospice, spoke eloquently of the vital role that it plays. I take the opportunity to pay tribute to fundraisers right across Northern Ireland for the vital role that they play, and we encourage them to continue to do that. Mr Donnelly spoke eloquently of the importance of the provision of palliative care for our health service here in Northern Ireland. He spoke of his role and the work that he has done, on a personal level, providing palliative care to patients during his professional life as a nurse. I thank you, Mr Donnelly, for the work that you have done, because I know that it is vital for families across Northern Ireland. The Chair of the Health Committee has been a strong champion for the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice and, I know, has been to visit it on a number of occasions. I thank her and the entire Health Committee for the work that they continue to do. Mr Chambers recognised the vital role that the Children's Hospice staff play and the rightful expectation among the public that we continue to support them. He pointed out the budgetary constraints in the Department of Health — of course, he voted against the Budget, so he is able to make those remarks — and continues to make an important argument for further funding for the Department of Health. Mr McGrath said that he would like to see this commitment from the House but that, in his view, the discussion here would have no tangible outcomes. I respectfully disagree with Mr McGrath. As I said at the start of my contribution, I know that patients, staff and users of the service are watching today's debate because they want to see the House discuss the important role that the hospice plays. We send out a clear message to fundraisers, staff and the public that we value the service. Even the Health Minister, in his remarks, recognised the vital work that they do and spoke of his ongoing and clear commitment to that. It is important that we send a clear message from the House that the work that they do is vital. Órlaithí Flynn, rightly, referenced the impact study that the Northern Ireland Hospice publishes annually. I encourage every Member to read that, if they get the opportunity. It provides the details of the countless families across Northern Ireland whom the hospice supports, and it drills down into the great work that it does. Sian Mulholland, a Member for North Antrim, spoke about the personal circumstances that she and her family have faced and the irreplaceable service that the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice provides. She spoke eloquently about how it is our duty as elected representatives to champion the cause of the Northern Ireland Hospice. I could not agree with her more. Cara Hunter, rightly, recognised the vital role that the staff of the hospice play. We are blessed to have such excellent staff across Northern Ireland. Mr Gaston spoke of the vital work of fundraisers and, in particular, spoke of the work that is done by his party colleague Alderman Stewart McDonald. Mr Gaston spoke of the fabulous amount that they have raised through their work. I congratulate Stewart and others who continue to fundraise. Mr Gaston even described the Alliance amendment as hugely "sensible". That shows how important the issue is: it brings all parties together to support the work of the hospice.

I agree. Madison does amazing work in highlighting the work of the Northern Ireland Hospice. I think that she has raised almost £60,000, to date. Ms Brownlee, as a representative for East Antrim, is right to continue to champion the work that she does. I thank the Member for doing that. Mr Carroll made clear the ongoing commitment that the health service should have to palliative care. Again, we agree with those remarks. Health Minister, thank you, first, for being here and, secondly, for your commitment to the hospice. When you were appointed to the office, I wrote to you, on a number of occasions, and you committed to visiting the hospice. You will honour that commitment, next month. Minister, I do not think that anyone doubts your commitment to the role of Health Minister or your integrity and dedication to the role. Thank you for the work that you do. We may disagree on budget allocations, but I know that, working together, we can continue to promote this important cause. Miss McAllister, a fellow North Belfast representative, alongside her colleagues, put forward a sensible amendment, which we as a party will support. She spoke of the importance of seeing at first hand, when visiting the hospice, the important impact that it has.

It has been a really useful debate. Members have shown their clear commitment to the issue. There is an opportunity for us to send a strong message to the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice, the families, staff and service users that we, as a House, value the vital role that they play. Collectively, we will continue to do all that we can to ensure that the Children's Hospice receives the funding that it deserves.

1,400 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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