Hospice in the Weald has provided free care for adults with a terminal illness, and those important to them, in West Kent and northern East Sussex for more than 40 years. The Hospice is now extending this to develop a new service for children and young people.
“With predicted population growth and an increasing number of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions living longer, the demand for children’s palliative care services continues to grow,” said Nick Farthing, Chief Executive of Hospice in the Weald. “To help address this, Hospice in the Weald is developing its first service for children and young people and their families.”
The Hospice will provide support for families through home visits, counselling for parents and siblings and is developing a new Children’s Centre with specialist play and sensory rooms. Once established, the Hospice Leadership Team will grow the service and work towards providing out of hours care.
Nick added: “Meeting the basic care needs of a child with these conditions is all encompassing for parents, so we intend to ease the strain by offering home visits, emotional support and by creating a Children’s Centre for family time and respite for those parents who need a break during the day from their caring responsibilities. We want to make life easier for families who care for their children under such difficult circumstances.”
