Families across East London have been left devastated and furious after the sudden closure of the capital's oldest children's hospice just a week before Christmas. Richard House Children's Hospice in Beckton, Newham, entered administration on Thursday, December 18, 2025, following severe financial difficulties.
A Lifeline Lost for Vulnerable Children
The hospice, which was a critical support service for 600 children with life-limiting and complex conditions, ceased all operations on December 17. Parents now face the bleak prospect of the festive period without the vital respite care and emergency support the hospice provided.
Campaigners and families feel completely abandoned by the board of trustees, claiming they were not properly consulted. Some parents reportedly discovered the closure via a notice in a charity shop window. The situation has sparked the formation of the 'Save Richard House' campaign group, which is fighting to rescue the service from permanent closure.
"It's just been a mess," said co-lead campaigner Kareema Motala, 32. "We're nine days from Christmas, the idea that this is hanging over all of us at a time of year that's difficult anyway feels like a Dickens novel."
Transition to New Provider Faces Major Delays
Care for the affected children is being transferred to Haven House Hospice in Woodford Green. However, in a blow to families, it has been confirmed that Haven House will not reach full operational capacity until March 2025 as it struggles to cope with the sudden intake of hundreds of new patients.
This transition period leaves a dangerous gap in provision. Kareema Motala, whose 15-year-old son Jayden has the rare Lowe's syndrome, described Richard House as a crisis service. "It's where parents can take their children when 'everything hits the fan'," she explained, highlighting how it prevented long, traumatic waits in hospital A&E departments.
"My son's condition is deteriorating," she continued. "The fact now is that if he goes into a critical condition he's going to have to die in a hospital ward that's overcrowded and surrounded by strangers. This puts the fear of God into me."
Campaigners Fight Back with Funding Pledge
Before the administration, campaigners battled the trustees to keep the hospice open. They argued that £3.9 million was already available, which they believe could have secured the hospice's future for at least a year. Kareema Motala and fellow lead campaigner Ben Moss even proposed joining a new temporary board of trustees to steer a rescue plan.
The campaign has garnered significant support, including from the Mayor of London, the Mayor of Newham, and all three Newham MPs. In a major boost, the group has also received an anonymous pledge to donate £1.3 million over three years. A petition to save the hospice has already gained over 3,250 signatures in little more than a week.
Ben Moss, 45, whose five-year-old son Miles has cerebral palsy, emphasised the hospice's role in preventing parent burnout and crisis. "So many of the parents have talked about how Richard House saved their lives," he told reporters. "At times, they were at a point where they might end it. It's only because of Richard House's intervention that they're still here."
Official Statements and the Search for a Solution
In a statement, joint administrator Adam Stephens from S&W Group said the trustees had explored numerous options over the past year but "no viable solution could be found to overcome the significant financial challenges." He confirmed staff would remain on site throughout December to support the handover of care.
The NHS North East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) stated it had been working with the hospice for months, funding it to the maximum permitted level and exploring merger options. A spokesperson said: "We are now working to ensure that children and families directly affected by the closure continue to receive the care they require from nearby Haven House Hospice or through other arrangements wherever possible."
Founded 25 years ago by paediatric nurse Anthea Hare, Richard House was London's first children's hospice, created to meet the need for specialist palliative care in East London. Its closure marks a tragic end to a quarter-century of service, leaving hundreds of the city's most vulnerable children and their families in a state of profound uncertainty and fear.
