AN annual survey by Acorns Children’s Hospice has highlighted the increased demand for specialist palliative care services from families of life limited children.

While people were positive about the quality of service provided by the charity, which has its headquarters in Wythall, a common theme was a request for extra provision.

A significant number of respondents said they would benefit from the opportunity for their child to have longer and more regular short care breaks at the hospice.

Emma Aspinall, director of care at Acorns, said: “There is a growing number of children with increasingly complex health and social care needs.

“Acorns is the only place that brings together the facilities, services, skills and experience required to provide them with the necessary high quality care and support they deserve.”

In 2014 Acorns supported more than 760 children and more than 980 families, including those who are bereaved.

The charity’s vision is that every child and young person in the region that is life limited or life threatened should receive the specialist care and support they need.

The current strategy aims to increase the number of children cared for by 50 per cent to 1,020 by the end of the decade.

Ms Aspinall added: “It will cost us over £8m in the next financial year to enable us to keep providing the specialist palliative care and support that local children and their families so heavily rely on.

"The bulk of this money has to be generated through fundraising efforts so we are once again asking the public to help us in any way they can to hit our target. It is only with their support, we will be able to continue to be there for families who urgently need our help.”