Palliative care: moving forward

Abstract 

Children with life-limiting conditions cannot yet expect the same access to specialist palliative care services that is available to adults. On the other hand, the paediatric approach to the care of patients already embodies much of what specialist palliative medicine can offer. Paediatric palliative care must, of course, develop from within paediatrics if we are to meet the needs of children. At the same time, we have much to learn from our colleagues in adult medicine, both corporately and individually. Adolescent palliative care, in particular, is an opportunity for collaboration.

Specialist palliative care in children needs to be delivered in many different clinical locations. To achieve this, the consultant must take on an advisory and co-ordinating role as well as giving specialist advice. The exact role of the consultant in paediatric palliative care will depend more on the individual child than on the model. This article considers where we have reached, and where we are going in the development of this new subspecialty.

Keywords:  palliative care, palliative medicine, children, symptom control, terminal care