Huddersfield MP Harpreet Uppal has raised the hospice funding crisis directly with Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

Ms Uppal made her concerns known following a meeting last week with representatives of the Huddersfield-based Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

Ms Uppal hosted a meeting, also attended by other West Yorkshire MPs, along with Steve, a local dad whose son is supported by the hospice.

Forget Me Not provides life-changing care for children with life-shortening conditions and their families, offering so much more than clinical support.

Like many children’s hospices across the country, Forget Me Not faces a precarious funding future. With only 10% of their annual £6 million costs covered by the National Children’s Hospice Grant and other government funding, the hospice relies heavily on community fundraising. This unsustainable model puts vital services at risk.

Ms Uppal urged the Health Secretary to take urgent steps to secure sustainable funding. His response acknowledged the pressures on hospices and committed to supporting them through these challenges.

Ms Uppal said: “I will continue to work with Forget Me Not and my Parliamentary colleagues to push for long-term funding solutions that ensure these indispensable services remain available for families across Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and the entire country.

“Forget Me Not is a lifeline for families like Steve’s, and it’s essential we do everything we can to protect the hospice sector.”

Gareth Pierce, CEO of Forget Me Not, said: “The support we provide to families is irreplaceable, yet without sustainable funding, our services are at risk.

“We were pleased to discuss these issues with West Yorkshire MPs and welcome Harpreet’s continued engagement on this issue, which we hope will help us to secure a future where every family can access the care they need.”