Cumbria Children's Hospice Under Threat From Cuts

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has written to the government urging it not to put children's hospice services in Cumbria at risk by cutting funding for the services.

Cumbria's children's hospice, Jigsaw, has five beds in Carlisle as well as providing care across Cumbria. They currently provides specialist children's palliative care for around 50-60 children across Cumbria with incurable diseases, including 9 from the South Lakes area.

The hospice gets around a quarter of its funding from the government, but this is under threat as part of a national review. Tim recently met with the Chief Executive of the Jigsaw children's hospice to discuss the threat to the service for children in Cumbria. Tim has written to the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to urge him not to cut this vital funding.

Tim said: "At what must be an unimaginably difficult time, the government has a duty to do all it can to provide support and make life easier for the children and their families. Jigsaw provides an invaluable service to local children, and it is extremely concerning that this could now be under threat due to government cuts. Without Jigsaw, children and their families would be forced to travel as far as Chorley, Newcastle or Loch Lomond for care."