MP MANUELA Perteghella has joined a cross-party call for urgent support for parents of seriously ill children.
The Stratford MP has written to the secretary of state for business and trade, Peter Kyle, urging the government to take decisive action in support of Hugh’s Law – a proposed change to provide parents of seriously ill children with support from day one.
The letter, backed by over 150 MPs and Lords, marks a significant moment in the campaign led by the “It’s Never You” charity.
The letter welcomes the government’s recent announcement of a stand-alone consultation on support for families facing the unimaginable challenge of caring for a seriously ill child.
Hugh’s Law would introduce a non-means tested benefit for parents of seriously ill children, filling a critical gap in the current welfare system. While support exists for new parents through maternity and paternity leave, there is no bespoke provision for families facing long-term or life-threatening childhood illness except for the limited Neonatal Care Act, which applies only in a child’s earliest days.
As the letter states, the welfare system “should respond not to the timing of illness, but to the reality of need.” It adds: “The campaign for Hugh’s Law goes to the heart of what our welfare state must provide: a safety net people can rely on in moments of crisis.”
Dr Perteghella said: “I commend Ceri and Frances for their campaign. Their son Hugh faced cancer and sadly passed away in September 2021. During his illness, they found out first hand that parents are forced to balance family finances alongside being at their child’s bedside while they are desperately ill.
“Parents should be able to focus their energies on their child at these critical times. I am proud to support Hugh’s law.”
Ceri Menai-Davies, co-founder of It’s Never You, added: “I’m incredibly moved by the support we’ve received, over 150 MPs and peers have now joined us in calling for change and for consultation into Hugh’s law to be acted upon and to be legislated upon. To see that level of compassion and unity gives me real hope. This letter represents more than signatures, it represents a shared belief that parents of seriously ill children deserve better. I’m proud of how far we’ve come, and this is only the beginning.”
