London's oldest children's hospice launches urgent appeal amid funding crisis

"Richard House in Newham, east London, has today warned that without immediate support it could soon be forced to turn away some of the capital's most vulnerable children many of whom require end-of-life care. The hospice has been a lifeline for families for the last 25 years, providing specialist care for children with complex life-limiting conditions. But the hospice says it is now at a critical juncture."

"Kareema Motala, whose 14-year-old son Jayden requires round-the-clock care due to an extremely rare genetic condition, said her family would collapse under the strain without the support of Richard House. The family, from Wapping, rely on the hospice for two nights of respite care each month. Kareema, now 32, has been Jayden's full-time carer since she was just 17. She said without the hospice, I honestly don't know what we'll do. There's nowhere for families like ours."

"Jayden was born with Lowe Syndrome, a condition that has left him almost blind, with severe learning disabilities, epilepsy, brittle bones, rickets and kidney failure. He uses a wheelchair and requires 24/7 care. In 2023, Jayden broke his femur after a fall and spent 40 weeks in hospital, enduring seizures every five to 10 minutes. Caring for him is exhausting. Not just the physical effort, but the stress and worry that comes with his condition,"

Richard House, London's oldest children's hospice in Newham, has launched an emergency appeal amid unprecedented demand that risks overwhelming its services. Only 29% of funding comes from the NHS, leaving most income reliant on fundraising that has been hit by financial pressures. Without immediate support, vital services and respite care may be cut and some vulnerable and end-of-life children could be turned away. Families depend on specialist staff and facilities for round-the-clock and respite care. Children with complex conditions, such as Lowe Syndrome, require intensive medical and practical support that families cannot safely provide at home.

Read at www.standard.co.uk