Children’s palliative care maps
Our new interactive maps show where seriously ill children and their families in England can access palliative care which meets National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) quality standards. We have created them from information provided by children’s palliative care networks and the results of freedom of information (FOI) requests of NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). You can read the information returns from each regional network here.
The eight interactive Google Maps each represent a different standard of care. By switching the different map layers on and off, you can find out the following for every part of England:
- Where the standards are being met (shaded in green) and where they are not (unshaded)
- The number of children and children and young people aged 0-24 with life-limiting conditions per integrated care system (ICS) area [1][2]; the darker the shading, the higher the number of cases; we hope that ICSs will use this information to inform their work to commission children’s palliative care services and fill gaps in services.
- The prevalence of life-limiting and life-threatening conditions per 10,000 children and young people aged 0-24 per ICS area [1][2]; the darker the shading, the higher the prevalence.
- Whether local CCGs commission services to meet a standard (available on certain maps).
- Where inpatient children’s palliative care services are located; these include children’s hospitals and children’s hospices. Descriptions about each service are available by clicking on the pins in the map, in addition to information about how children and families can access them.
- Where Westminster parliamentary constituencies are located; we are keen that MPs use these maps to find out whether standards are being met in their constituency – and to work with the government to make sure that terminally ill children in their constituency can choose to access palliative care that meets NICE standards in hospital, in children’s hospices at at home.
24/7 home children's end of life care
This map shows the areas in England where children and young people approaching the end of life and being cared for at home have access to both children’s nursing care and advice from a consultant in paediatric palliative care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Home children's end of life care: normal working hours
This map shows the areas in England where children and young people approaching the end of life and being cared for at home have access to both children’s nursing care and advice from a consultant in paediatric palliative care during normal working hours.
Multidisciplinary team
This map shows the areas in England where infants, children and young people with a life-limiting condition can access palliative care at home provided by a multidisciplinary team that includes members of the specialist paediatric palliative care team.
Support for grief and loss at home
This map shows the areas in England where parents or carers of infants, children and young people approaching the end of life can access support for grief and loss at home when their child is nearing the end of their life and after their death.
Home symptom management: normal working hours
This map shows the areas in England where children and young people with a life-limiting condition and being cared for at home have access to both children’s nursing care and advice from a consultant in paediatric palliative care to manage their symptoms (not including end of life care) during normal working hours.
24/7 home symptom management
This map shows the areas in England where children and young people with a life-limiting condition and being cared for at home have access to both children’s nursing care and advice from a consultant in paediatric palliative care to manage their symptoms (not including end of life care), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Emotional and psychological support
This map shows the areas in England where infants, children and young people with a life-limiting condition and their parents or carers can access emotional and psychological support at home.
Short breaks (respite) at home
This map shows the areas in England where infants, children and young people with a life-limiting condition and their families can access regular short breaks for respite at home should they wish.