More than 200 people have been supported by three new hospice nurses since they began working
A pioneering new care model of palliative care for children has been praised.
An independent report has recommended that a system implemented by Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) should be extended.
The charity has employed three nurses to work in hospitals and communities across Scotland to help families make informed decisions on pallaitive care for their children.
A Children in Scotland evaluation of the Diana Children’s Nurse Service found that the nurses supported families to make informed choices on what type of care and end of life support children received. The role of the nurses is to provide ongoing support for families, allowing them to utilise facilities they would not otherwise have accessed, including bereavement support.
Support work was provided to 239 people by the Diana nurses, and several families highlighted the impact of the service, saying they felt they had a sense of control in desperate circumstances.
Jack Edmond, and his parents Nicola and Bruce, from Aberdeen, were one of the families supported by the nurses. He was diagnosed with a rare, life-shortening genetic condition not long after he was born.
Bruce Edmond said: "Shortly after his diagnosis, a CHAS Diana children's nurse came to talk with us in our local hospital. That meeting was to change the course of Jack's life and how we as a family would deal with it. Through talking with her, it became clear to us that whilst Jack was going to die, he still had so much living to do. After receiving such devastating news, we started to see a future, we could see things that we could achieve."
The number of children and families supported by the nurses increased from 97 in the first year to 142 in 2016/17, and 91 training courses took place to educate hospice staff during the period.
The report recommended that the scheme should be extended to cover areas throughout the country.
Sue Hogg, director of children and families at CHAS, said: “The report shows we are providing the right support to those who need us – both families and health care providers.”
