The UK government is considering proposals that would provide financial support and job protections for parents forced to become full-time carers when their child becomes seriously ill. The proposed legislation, known as 'Hugh's law', is named after Hugh Menai-Davis, who died in 2021 at the age of six after battling a rare form of cancer.
Background of Hugh's law
Hugh's parents, Ceri and Frances Menai-Davis, launched a campaign after their son's death to secure better employment protections for parents in similar situations. The proposal is part of a broader consultation on pay and workplace changes aimed at helping unpaid carers return to work. It includes a right to paid carer's leave and a maternity leave-style 'right to return' after intensive caring periods.
Employment rights minister Kate Dearden stated: 'Whether you're caring for an elderly parent, a partner with a long-term illness, or a child fighting a serious disease, you shouldn't have to choose between your job and those you love.'
Impact on families and economy
Ministers are concerned that many unpaid carers are forced to reduce hours or leave work entirely, costing the economy billions annually. The Menai-Davises called the consultation a 'significant moment' for thousands of families facing the impossible choice between staying with their child or working to maintain financial stability.
Ceri Menai-Davis explained: 'When Hugh was diagnosed with cancer, our world stopped overnight. We were suddenly expected to become full-time carers while trying to hold together jobs, finances, family life, and our own wellbeing. We discovered there is very little support for parents standing beside their children.'
Scope of the problem
An estimated 11,000 children each year experience serious health conditions requiring substantial care, with about 4,000 families experiencing hospital stays of at least two months. Under the proposal, eligible parents would gain legal rights to time off during acute family crises, along with minimum financial support and employment protections similar to those for premature birth and bereavement.
Frances Menai-Davis added: 'Hugh's law is not about special treatment. It is about recognising that when a child is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, the whole family enters crisis. The child receives a treatment plan, but parents are left navigating employment, finances, caring, and emotional trauma. That has to change.'
Comparisons with other countries
According to the Its Never You campaign, Sweden offers 120 days of paid leave per year to care for sick children, California provides eight weeks of paid family leave, Canada offers 35 weeks of caregiver benefits, and France provides up to 310 days of financially assisted leave.
Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, commented: 'Too many carers currently have no choice but to reduce hours or leave work altogether because workplace support and employment rights do not reflect the realities of caring.'
