Graham gave his support for children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions at an event held by the charity Together for Short Lives.
Graham met with Anna Gill OBE, a parent carer of a young person with a life-limiting condition, in addition to other representatives from the children’s palliative care sector.
Graham said: “I learnt about the important work that children’s palliative care services - including children’s hospices - do in communities across the UK. These services provide an important lifeline to children and families from the moment a child is diagnosed until their eventual death and continue supporting families for as long as they need it.
“I listened to some of the problems facing young people with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions and their families, which include poorly joined-up services and badly planned transitions from children’s to adults’ services in some areas.
“It is vital that health and social care work together to ensure that joined-up, person-centred services are provided to children and young people who need palliative care. This group of young people often have very complex needs and little time to wait for the right services to be put in place. Their parents and carers are also hard-pressed and have many demands on their time, yet often have to spend hours chasing up to 30 different local agencies to secure the right care for their child.
“The NHS, local authorities and other agencies must work together to jointly assess and plan care for children and young people. It is also vital that local children’s palliative care services – including wonderful places like Claire House Children's Hospice - are funded fairly and sustainably by the NHS and local authorities to ensure that the excellent care they provide can continue.”