Every day, 10 children in the UK are diagnosed with a condition that requires them to spend over two months in the hospital.

Our eldest son, Hugh, tragically passed away from a rare cancer in 2021. Since then, my wife and I have been fighting for better financial support for parents of sick children. In 2023, with the help of our local Conservative MP, Sir Oliver Heald, we initiated a bill in Parliament known as Hugh’s Law. This bill aimed to explore the possibility of providing financial assistance to parents of sick children. Currently, around 4,000 children in the UK spend two months or more in the hospital each year for treatment. These parents often face a devastating 50% reduction in household income, as one parent must become a full-time caregiver. This financial burden only adds to the emotional toll of their child's illness.

At present, parents seeking financial support have only three options:

1. Universal Credit, which is means-tested.
2. Disability Living Allowance (DLA), which can only be applied for three months after diagnosis and takes an additional 20 weeks to process. DLA is required to claim a Blue Badge.
3. 18 weeks of unpaid parental leave, taken in four-week blocks within a calendar year.

However, there is currently no specific financial support available from Day 1 for parents whose lives are abruptly upended to care for their sick child. As noted above, these parents face an average wait of 4-6 months before any financial help becomes available. This leaves parents with the added stress of worrying about how to pay their mortgage, bills, and groceries while caring for their child. There is support for parents when a child is born, but none when a child requires long-term treatment or tragically passes away.

In December 2023, during Prime Minister's Questions, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his support and pledged to do everything possible to financially assist the parents of sick children. In January 2024, the bill was withdrawn at the request of Jo Churchill, The Minister for Employment, to expedite action. Unfortunately, this effort has now stalled due to the change in government.

We are calling on the Chancellor to commit, in the upcoming October budget, to providing immediate financial support for parents of sick children who find themselves financially vulnerable following their child’s diagnosis.

Every day, 10 children are diagnosed with conditions that require them to spend over two months in the hospital. We are asking the Chancellor to provide support from Day 1, alleviating a significant burden during an already difficult time. This is a low-cost measure that offers essential protection and support for all parents. As the Prime Minister said on July 5th from the steps of Downing Street, “For too long now, we have turned a blind eye as millions slid into greater insecurity... I want to say very clearly to those people - not this time.” We urge the government to ensure that parents of sick children are no longer ignored nor left behind. 

If you believe, as we do, that more financial help is needed for the parents of sick children, please join us and sign this petition.