Liverpool is being urged to support an urgent £10 million fundraising appeal to help Claire House transform its West Derby site into a full children’s hospice, bringing vital specialist care closer to home for families across the city.
While Claire House Children’s Hospice already supports hundreds of families across the region, Liverpool currently has no children’s hospice providing specialist 24-hour palliative and end-of-life care.
This means families must travel across the Mersey to the charity’s Wirral hospice during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. For children who are too ill to make the journey, accessing this essential support can be impossible.
Claire House has already secured planning permission to transform its West Derby site into a fully operational, 24-hour children’s hospice. Now, the charity is calling on residents, businesses and communities to help raise the £10 million needed to Make the Hospice Happen.
David Pastor, CEO of Claire House, believes no family should miss out on hospice care simply because of where they live.
He said:
“Why should children in Liverpool miss out simply because of where they live? They shouldn’t. This is not right.
“In Merseyside and Cheshire, a child dies every two days. Sadly, there is currently no children’s hospice providing 24/7 end-of-life care in Liverpool, meaning too many families face difficult journeys when they need support most. Some families are missing out altogether because it’s impossible for them to travel.
“This is about giving Liverpool’s children, young adults and families the same access to hospice care, the same choice and the same support that families on the Wirral already have.
“We have planning permission. We know the need is there. Now we need Liverpool to make the hospice happen.”
Plans for a new children’s hospice in West Derby
The proposed development would transform the existing Claire House site in West Derby into a specialist facility offering round-the-clock care for children and young adults with life-limiting conditions.
Plans include two dedicated end-of-life care bedrooms and six respite bedrooms, allowing families to access expert care and support when they need it most.
The hospice would also feature two Butterfly Suites, providing peaceful, private spaces where families can spend precious time together following the death of a child.
The expansion could enable Claire House to double the number of families it supports, increasing its reach from approximately 500 to 1,000 families.
For families who have experienced the challenges of accessing hospice care outside Liverpool, the need for a dedicated facility in the city is deeply personal.
Kate Jones, whose son Josh was too ill to travel to the Wirral hospice, explained the difference a Liverpool facility could have made for her family.
She said:
“We always wanted our son Josh to pass at Claire House, but he was too ill to be taken to the Wirral. It was just too far.
“If the West Derby site was up and running, we absolutely would have preferred him to be transferred so he could pass there instead of in the hospital. We wouldn’t have chosen a hospital for him.”
Liverpool urged to get behind £10 million appeal
Claire House plans to temporarily relocate its Liverpool day services while demolition work begins at the West Derby site in early 2027.
However, the charity says every day without a fully operational children’s hospice in Liverpool means more children and families risk missing out on vital care closer to home.
With planning permission already secured, raising the £10 million required is now the crucial next step towards making the new hospice a reality.
The charity is appealing to individuals, local businesses and community organisations across Liverpool to come together and support the campaign.
To support the Make the Hospice Happen appeal or make a donation, visit the website.
