Expansion to Liverpool children's hospice approved

Plans to expand a children's hospice in Liverpool to bring care closer to families have been approved by the city council's planning committee.

Claire House has been given permission to turn its West Derby site from a day care service to one offering around the clock care.

The charity, which runs a hospice in Wirral, has said the site needed to expand as more than 60% of its referrals were now coming from Liverpool and the surrounding area.

Claire House's chief executive officer David Pastor said: "Distance should never stand in the way of families getting the support they need at the hardest moments of their lives."

The site was previously occupied by Carmelite nuns before it was taken over by the charity.

Claire House has said it needs to raise another £15m to pay for the expansion plans, and it is hoped work can then start in January next year and be completed in late 2028.

The plans include a state-of-the-art children's hospice that provides comprehensive services for babies, children and young adults up to the age of 25 along with their families.

Specialist care, respite stays and end-of-life support, bedrooms for overnight respite, private suites for families whose children have died, and therapeutic spaces are all included in the plans.

The work on the property includes building a two-storey extension to the side of the building and a single-storey extension to the rear.

Pastor said: "Every day at Claire House, I'm reminded that when a baby, child or young adult is seriously ill, there is only one chance to get their care right.

"We cannot change a diagnosis or stop children dying but we can make sure families feel supported, understood, and surrounded by compassion when it matters most."

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