Children's hospice services provide palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families from the moment of diagnosis for as long as it is needed.

Delivered by a multi-disciplinary team and in partnership with other agencies, children's hospice services take a holistic and flexible approach to care, and are shaped by the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of both child and family. They provide a range of services including:

• the management of common symptoms, primarily physical but also psychosocial and spiritual
• end-of-life care, helping children and young people with advanced illness to live as comfortably as possible until the end of their lives
• 24 hour access to emergency care as and when needed
• short breaks to support the family in the care of their child in a dedicated children's hospice building or at home
• support for the entire family, including siblings and grandparents
• bereavement support for all family members for as long as it is needed
• specialist therapies, including physiotherapy, play and music therapy
• information, support, education and training to carers, where needed.

Children's hospices deliver these services in a purpose built building and /or in the home (commonly termed 'hospice at home service').

They work with families from all faiths and backgrounds and fully respect the importance of religious customs and cultural needs.

See our Q&A section for more information.