Care for children

At the heart of our philosophy is the concept of making each day count. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Children's Hospice, where children and young people benefit from the specialist care we provide, and their families and carers are offered support and friendship.

Admission and Attendance

Admission and attendance is open to anyone from 0 - 25 years with a progressive life-limiting illness. Our catchment area covers Hull & East Riding and the whole of Lincolnshire. No charge is made, irrespective of means.

Children and Young People use the Hospice predominantly for respite care, either for the day or for a planned in-patient stay. This helps both the child/young person as well as the family/carers.

Home Liaison

Home Liaison provides advice and support at home for the child/young person and their family/carer, as many of the families live a long way away from the Hospice and cannot attend day care, but may still need advice and support in between their planned in-patient stays.

Referrals

Referrals are made directly to St Andrew's Hospice. Enquiries are accepted from any source, but consent is sought from the child/young person's parents (if appropriate) and GP prior to assessment or further contact.

Assessment

All patients are assessed as quickly as possible after referral. The family will be contacted by phone, usually within 24 hours, but no later than 48 hours, and an assessment will be arranged within 5 working days. This will be carried out by the named Nurse. A Family Support Worker or Medical Director may also take part in the assessment, if appropriate. Children and their families and carers are invited to visit the Hospice before admission or attendance, and are provided with an information booklet and DVD.

Availability

• Four beds are available, which can be booked in advance for respite care. Weekends and school holidays are the periods of highest demand, so we have to prioritise child and family needs during these periods.
• 4 places, 7 days a week are available in the Day Unit. Continuous assessment takes place to ensure flexibility of attendance to meet both the patients' and family/carers' needs.
• Home Liaison is undertaken by the Community Nurse or named Nurse.
• Complementary therapies are undertaken by our own trained nurses and qualified volunteers.

Quality of Care: First 24 Hours/First Attendance

On admission, we spend time establishing a relationship of trust. We also undertake a careful assessment of the symptoms and listen to what the patients and families/carers have to say about their condition and their needs whilst staying at the Hospice.

In-Patient Care

During the early days, individual care plans are devised in collaboration with the young person and/or family member/carer, and reviewed regularly by the interdisciplinary team. At all stages of care, the young person's wishes are paramount. The role of family and carers, their needs, and the role they play in the care of the patient are also a very important consideration when planning care. Above all, the focus of care is on maximising the child's potential and ensuring the best possible quality of life.

Medical Care

As a community based service, children/young people are admitted under the care of their own GP, and so medical cover is available at all times. Out-of-hours care is provided by the GP Centre at the Diana Princess of Wales Hospital. Our Medical Directors have a responsibility for developing and sharing their expertise, and for providing guidance on symptom control.

Patterns of Care

Our nursing model is based on a holistic approach, and is consistent with best practice in Hospice nursing. All children/young people and their families have a named nurse, and individual care plans help staff to respond to their specific needs.

Visits are unrestricted, but parental permission is required. Pets are most welcome. Parents may telephone at any time and also stay overnight. Meals for relatives are provided at a nominal cost.

Care is geared to the child's/young person's wishes, and there is no set routine. In general, children and young people are encouraged to be as independent as possible.

The need for privacy is totally respected, and the dignity of the child or young person is valued at all times.

Support

We recognise that having a child or young person who needs Hospice care is both tiring and stressful. For this reason, we have Family Support Workers who help families to cope by offering support with emotional, psychological and social care issues, providing practical advice and support, as well as access to resources.

Counselling can take place in the Hospice and at home. In addition, the Chaplain provides spiritual and psychological support, and clergy of all denominations are available on request.

A monthly carers' support group, run by the Family Support Worker and a Registered Sick Children's Nurse (RSN), is available for parents and carers.