Models of care for children dying of malignant disease

Two-thirds of children with cancer are now cured of their disease. For the majority of the remainder there is a period of terminal care. The emphasis of care at this stage is on the quality of life for both child and family. Most families prefer that their child should be cared for at home, with professional support from those known to them. This paper looks at various approaches to terminal care in children and describes the model of care for such children in the south west of the United Kingdom. From this information, key elements of an effective service are identified.