Claire House Children's Hospice is appealing for funds to build a full children's hospice at its West Derby site, so Liverpool families can access end-of-life care close to home. The charity currently offers day services there, but has planning permission to add Butterfly Suites and specialist end-of-life care, right next to Alder Hey Children's Hospital.
Butterfly Suites offer precious time
Writing as an ambassador, Pete Price highlighted the Butterfly Suites as among the most remarkable facilities he has ever seen. They allow families to sit with their child in a bed or cot, holding their hand and spending treasured time together, giving them the chance to say goodbye in their own time, surrounded by love, comfort, and privacy.
The site also offers respite bedrooms where seriously and terminally ill children can stay for short breaks with expert medical care, giving exhausted parents a chance to rest. There are also rooms dedicated to specialist end-of-life care, allowing families to spend their last precious days together away from a hospital setting, yet fully supported by expert care.
Why Liverpool families need local care
While Claire House offers this on the Wirral, not everyone can make the journey - it is simply too far, and some children are too ill to travel. Price called it a total injustice that families miss out on this care simply because they live on the other side of the water, with children dying without hospice care close to home and families forced to make long journeys through the tunnel.
Claire House has the plan to fix this, but needs the funds to make it a reality. Donations can be made online at clairehouse.org.uk/get-involved/support-us/the-extra-mile-liverpool/ or by phone on 0151 343 0883.
