ACT - The Association for Children's Palliative Care

ACT and Children's Hospices UK have released this statement in response to the National Audit Office report on End of Life Care in England:
 
The National Audit Office (NAO) report (published Wednesday 26 November 2008) highlights the challenges the government faces to improve the inequalities in the way adults in England are treated as they die. For children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, the same holds true but is made worse by a lack of funding.
 
Barbara Gelb, Chief Executive of Children’s Hospices UK said: "The NAO highlights the huge variations in funding for hospice services in England from Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and criticises the lack of coordination between health and social care services. These problems are just as real for children’s hospices and other children’s palliative care providers."
 
Lizzie Chambers, Chief Executive of ACT said: “Whilst we support the report's recommendations to iron out PCT funding inequalities for adult services, we mustn't forget that children's palliative care services are also struggling for money. Whereas adult end-of-life services in England were allocated £286m in July, most PCTs say they have no new money to implement the government’s strategy for children’s palliative care published in February 2008. Children’s palliative care services in England will struggle to keep their doors open unless the government tells PCTs how much extra money they have been given."
 

The True Colours Trust is delighted to announce that it is working with the Institute for Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity to create the UK’s first Chair in Palliative Care for Children and Young People. The Chair will be called the True Colours Chair of Palliative Care for Children and Young People.

The True Colours Trust hopes that the creation of the Chair will act as a catalyst, drawing on the significant expertise around the country, and building on the commitment to make high quality paediatric palliative care universally accessible.

Run the Bupa 10,000 for ACT and help children with life-limiting conditions

For the first time this year, UK children’s palliative care charity, ACT, has secured limited running places for the Bupa London 10,000 on Bank Holiday Monday, May 25th 2009. 

ACT is currently recruiting volunteers to encourage friends and family to sponsor them to complete the race, which will take runners along part of the London 2012 Olympic circuit and past many of the Capital’s most famous land marks, including Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the London Eye.
For those up for the challenge, this is a great opportunity to keep fit at the same time as making a difference to the lives of children who are not expected to reach adulthood.

ACT is optimistic that this new fundraising effort will bring in much needed money to help it maintain and develop the important work it does with families and professionals caring for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.

 ACT Children’s Palliative Care Training Grants are still available, but the deadline for applications is fast approaching. Apply now and make the most of this great opportunity to develop your skills without paying a penny!

If you are a parent or family member providing care for a child with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition, or if you deliver or support children’s palliative care services, you could be eligible for an ACT Children’s Palliative Care Training Grant, worth up to £250.