MPs unite to support baby hospice
We were delighted to welcome four Tees Valley MPs to our Middlesbrough baby hospice on Friday, 7th February. Anna Turley, Luke Myer, Andy McDonald, and Chris McDonald joined us to discuss the urgent need for more equitable and sustainable funding for Children’s Hospices. All four MP’s gave assurances they would help raise the awareness of these issues in Parliament and support the hospice where-ever possible.
Chris McDonald, who has supported Zoe’s Place for many years, emphasised the need for “certainty around future funding.” Luke Myer reflected on the community’s deep connection to Zoe’s Place, saying, “All of Teesside has a stake in Zoe’s Place in one way or another, and we must ensure it is supported for years to come.” Anna Turley highlighted the importance of both local and national support, stating, “No child should have to wait for the care and love they deserve.” Meanwhile, Andy McDonald described the visit as a “lightbulb moment,” recognising the urgent need for better state funding for baby hospices.
Joan Stainsby, Executive Trustee of Zoe’s Place, summed up the significance of the visit: “Having four MPs around the table, all genuinely engaged and committed, was a huge step forward. They’ve left with a real understanding of our work and the challenges we face, and an assurance that they will help raise the profile of Zoe’s Place and the urgent need for sustainable funding for children’s hospices.”
Zoe’s Place is deeply grateful for the continued support from local MPs, staff, volunteers, and the wider community. Every conversation, partnership, and act of advocacy brings us closer to securing the future of our hospices, ensuring that no child has to wait for the care they desperately need.
