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From The Socialist newspaper, 1 April 2020
Fully fund hospices to care for vulnerable children
photo Matt J Newman (Creative Commons) (Click to enlarge)
I am a parent of a child with a terminal diagnosis. My daughter was diagnosed nearly six years ago, and since this time we have been using Shooting Star Chase Hospice in Guildford, Surrey. Over recent years, austerity measures have caused the hospice to cut vital services to many vulnerable children and their families.
The Covid-19 virus pandemic has caused further funding issues for the hospice, now under threat of closure.
When my daughter became acutely unwell in December last year, the Symptom Management Team was on call day and night to provide us with support when we needed it. If it wasn't for them, the task of caring for my daughter would have been unmanageable for us as parents.
I have no words to describe how upset we are that we may lose this invaluable service, and I am sure many families would be feeling the same, especially when our children are so vulnerable to this new virus. To put it frankly, if my daughter was to contract this virus we would not have the option of a service like Shooting Star Chase to help us through the end of my daughter's life.
We need the government to urgently review the funding needed to keep this and all children's hospices open. They must be fully funded now and beyond. The austerity measures that have crippled children's hospices must stop with immediate affect. We need their support as a family through what has been an incredibly difficult journey.
James Lewis, Staines Socialist Party
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
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In The Socialist 1 April 2020:
Coronavirus news
NHS workers speak out: austerity has left us unprepared
Schools: union oversight needed to end chaos in provision under coronavirus
Councils must use resources now for emergency response
NHS supply chain worker: privatisation has cut equipment quantity and quality
Self-isolation class divide: decent homes for all!
Fully fund hospices to care for vulnerable children
Scandalous conditions in food distribution centre
World War Two
All in this together? The 'Blitz spirit' myth
What we think
PPE, tests, full pay - for all now
Labour must resist 'Covid coalition': Workers need their own voice and party
Emergency legislation: Trade unions must be on guard against attacks on workers' interests
Food supply and the coronavirus crisis
Workplace news
Key workers should make bold demands
Essential workers deserve more
Working in Mike Ashley's empire: After lockdown we won't forget how we've been treated
Hull construction workers force bosses to shut down site over health and safety fears
Bosses concede to walkouts in Northern Ireland
Bus drivers halt sackings - now restore our pay
Postal workers walk out over health, safety and junk mail
Working from home during the pandemic
Leicester: Nylacast worker exposes truth
Refuse collection workers strike
Benefits
Fight for safety, staffing and services - Covid chaos for benefits claimants
More than ever, we need accountable union leaders
Campaigns
Help us continue to fight for workers and socialism
Readers' opinion
Going viral - Socialist letters and comments on the coronavirus crisis
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