Children’s Hospices Across Scotland has launched a £20 million appeal to transform how care is delivered to dying children and their families across the country.
The More Than a Hospice campaign aims to rebuild, renew and reimagine children’s palliative care as demand rises, with hospice stays increasing by 45 per cent over the past three years.
The increase reflects advances in medicine which mean more children are living longer with complex conditions and require specialist support over extended periods.
CHAS supports babies, children and young people with life shortening conditions, alongside the families who care for them, providing care at home, in hospital and in hospice settings.
The appeal is designed to ensure families have greater choice in how and where their child is cared for, particularly at the end of life.
Caroline Johnstone said:
“Since Ayla was diagnosed, CHAS has supported us as a family at Rachel House in Kinross. CHAS makes sure we have a choice in care for Ayla.
“We feel part of a community of families who are going through the same challenges and experiences.
“CHAS and the Rachel House team have helped Ayla continue to thrive and are always just a phone call away.
“I’ve phoned at midnight and during the day and they’re always there. If I’m lying awake during the night worrying about something to do with Ayla and need to chat to someone, I know I can phone CHAS, that truly is a lifeline.
“Ayla absolutely loves the sensory room and going out for walks around the beautiful grounds.
“She is quite sassy and loves a bit of nonsense but is also tactile and affectionate and the staff all know her personality so well which is great.”
Rami Okasha said:
“More Than a Hospice is a movement to rebuild, renew and reimagine what children’s palliative care can be.
“We want to unite communities, medical professionals and policymakers behind a shared mission: that every family has genuine choice and unwavering support during the hardest moments of their lives.
“Real choice is what we would all expect to have when we are facing the most devastating times.
“Every week, in Scotland, three children die from an incurable condition, and CHAS provides unwavering care at every step on this hardest of journeys for families facing this devastating reality, in our two hospices, in hospitals and at home.
“We welcome advances in medicine which mean more children are living longer with complex needs, but too many families still lack real choice about where and how their child is cared for.
“This is our biggest ever fundraising appeal since Rachel House was built over 30 years ago.
“Back then CHAS was founded thanks to the kindness and generosity of the Scottish public, today, this More Than A Hospice Appeal is an invitation for the people of Scotland to stand together again behind a simple belief: that no one should face the death of their child alone.”
The £20 million appeal will fund the rebuilding of Rachel House in Kinross, renewal of Robin House and long term improvements to children’s palliative care across Scotland.
The campaign also includes a public initiative inviting people to add their fingerprint to a growing visual artwork as a symbol of support.
Make your mark by donating today and ensure no one face the death of a child alone at chas.org.uk
