Closure of Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice in Liverpool: Families Face Uncertain Future

The impending closure of Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice in Liverpool has been described as a “devastating blow” by families who rely on its services. The hospice has been a critical resource for babies and children up to five years old who have life-limiting and complex conditions. Stephanie Perry, whose three-year-old daughter Robyn visits the hospice twice a week, conveyed the emotional impact of this loss, describing the hospice staff as a “second family.”

Zoe’s Place, located on Yew Tree Lane in West Derby, is facing closure due to the expiration of its lease in nine months, as announced by the charity’s trustees. The charity had planned to relocate to a new £3.5 million site nearby, but the move fell through, leaving families uncertain about future care options. Perry expressed her anguish to BBC Radio Merseyside, stating, “There’s nowhere else we can take our children, our babies, where they’re looked after, where they’re safe and that we trust.”

Robyn, born with spina bifida, has been using the hospice for 18 months, a period during which Perry says her daughter has “come out of her shell.” Perry tearfully shared how Robyn is overjoyed and shouts “bear” upon seeing the teddy bear logo at the hospice’s entrance. “Our babies deserve this and they don’t deserve to have this taken away from them,” Perry emphasized, highlighting the dependency of many families on the hospice.

The hospice’s intended new site on Hayman’s Green near Alder Hey Children’s Hospital was granted planning permission in September. However, trustees cited insufficient time to build the new facility, compounded by rising costs and challenges in securing funding due to the current economic climate. A statement from the trustees explained, “The time taken to get planning permission has left insufficient time to construct the building.”

Zoe’s Place trustees are engaging with alternative care providers, including Claire House in Bebington, Wirral, and NHS services, to find support solutions for affected families. Liverpool Council confirmed planning permission for the new site was granted, pending “legal agreement” with the applicant. The BBC has requested further clarification from the charity about the lease extension possibilities for the current building.