THE rumpus surrounding the recent BBC Panorama programme’s exposure of the Care Quality Commission’s failings is an unpleasant reminder of what Julia’s House had to go through at the hands of the CQC.

Before we could offer 24-hour care, we had to write nearly 1,000 pages of policies – it was all about paperwork and not people. An excruciating process, but one which was ultimately worthwhile.

For as a result we now provide overnight care – including emergency care.

We mostly plan the dates of the children’s overnight stays well ahead, enabling families to plan something special for their weekend while we look after their child.

But you may not know that we also do this in emergencies. For example, one single-parent family in Dorset was recently plunged into crisis by a sudden change in circumstances.

We immediately sat down with the family and worked out how we could help. Support at home was crucial to them, so that very evening we sent a Julia’s House carer into their home to help look after their five-year-old daughter, who has complex medical needs.

We increased our home visits for the family after that.

Very few other charities do much home visiting, but it is a vital support to families who have nowhere else to turn.

We also agreed to admit the little girl to Julia’s House at short notice.

This gave the family a crucial longer break at a time when things could otherwise have utterly fallen apart.

I was so proud of our nurses and care staff, who went the extra mile to provide all this support so quickly. When I thanked one of our carers for her help in the emergency, she said: “This is what we do. It’s what we’re all about and I’m just so glad to be in a position to help.”

So to the Julia’s House team, I say: “You are wonderful.” To families of life-limited children in Dorset I say: “We are there for you, supporting, helping, encouraging day-to-day, but especially when you need us most.”

MARTIN EDWARDS, CEO, Julia’s House, Dorset Children’s Hospice