'In palliative care we help children make memories'

Area of Science:

• Healthcare
• Pediatrics
• Palliative Care

Background:

• Children's palliative care services are facing a reduction in available resources.
• There is a critical need to maintain and enhance support for vulnerable children requiring specialized care.
• The voluntary sector plays a crucial role in supplementing healthcare services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the declining services in children's palliative care.
• To recruit nurses into the voluntary sector for pediatric palliative care roles.
• To ensure the continuity of care for children with life-limiting conditions.

Main Methods:

• A campaign was launched by the charity Together for Short Lives.
• The campaign targets nurses, encouraging them to consider specific career paths.
• Focus is placed on roles within the voluntary sector.

Main Results:

• The campaign aims to increase the number of nurses in children's palliative care.
• It seeks to mitigate the impact of service reductions.
• The initiative highlights the importance of the voluntary sector in healthcare provision.

Conclusions:

• Recruitment of nurses to the voluntary sector is essential for sustaining children's palliative care.
• Proactive measures are needed to prevent further deterioration of services for vulnerable children.
• Collaboration between charities and healthcare professionals can bolster critical care networks.