SERVICES TO TERMINALLY ILL CHILDREN UNDER THREAT

Winchester city councillor George Hollingbery today asked health bosses to think again and not cut a vital project that helps terminally ill children.

Former Conservative parliamentary candidate Mr Hollingbery has discovered that the Winchester based Dragonfly service is under threat due to the cash crisis in the NHS.

The project, which helps over 40 families in Hampshire cope with terminal illness, has been funded with money from the lottery since it was started about three years ago. The councillor understands that the Mid Hants Primary Care Trust and another Hampshire PCT are supposed to take over the cost of the service now the lottery funding has ended but they are unlikely to do so because they have no money.

Dragonfly provides both medical and emotional services and support to children and teenagers with terminal or life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and congenital birth defects.

This is a very much needed project that has helped scores of families in Hampshire cope with what all parents know is a devastating situation and it needs to continue, Mr Hollingbery said.

I understand there is enormous pressure on budgets in the NHS at the moment and some might see this project as a luxury because it goes above just medical care for these desperately ill children. But we are talking about help and support that is desperately needed and is of real value and help to these families, who are very much in need.

He added: I ask the health managers involved to try and find the money to allow Dragonfly to continue at least in some way so that present and future families can be helped.