When a paediatric palliative care team becomes involved in caring for a patient it does not mean that treatment automatically stops.

Treatment and therapies can continue but goals may change. In some cases the goal or focus of treatment may shift from cure to symptom management.

There are many ways we can support a family to care for a child in their location of choice. This may include hospital, home or Bear Cottage. Every family has unique needs and goals for their child.

The palliative care service can provide home visits wherever possible, or may additionally be able to video conference and provide telephone support to a family in their home when needed.

We are able to work with your local community service to ensure you have additional support to care for your child at home.

A referral to palliative care never means that health professionals have ‘given up’ on your child. A referral to palliative care means that your child has an illness where the outcome may be unknown so palliative care aims to help your child live in the best way possible during their illness. 

If your child is having treatment with the hope of cure, this will continue. Palliative care will not take over care of your child, but will work with the teams you already know and trust to provide the best possible care.

One of the most common reasons children are referred to palliative care is for the expertise we have in managing difficult symptoms. This often means we need to add strong medications that your child may or may not have had before.

The reasons for giving the drugs are to manage symptoms. For example, if the child has pain we will give strong medications. These drugs do not cause any harm to your child and are used safely with many children.

Often children are a lot more active and happy, and enjoying life because their pain or other symptoms are better controlled.