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P-141 How many children’s hospices could one family need?
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  1. Christine Mott1,2,
  2. Emily Harrop3,
  3. Ella Ambrose4 and
  4. Nicola Isbell5
  1. 1Acorns Hospices, Birmingham, UK
  2. 2Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
  3. 3Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
  4. 4Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service, UK
  5. 5Children’s Hospice South West, UK

Abstract

Background The nature of subspecialist medical care provision can mean families travel significant distances for the best opportunity to access intervention for severe conditions. When curative management is not possible this can mean families are far from home when management focuses on palliative care. Additionally, choice on location for end-of-life care may include sites beyond home and local services, meaning care in some situations covers multiple service areas. We describe a case that required collaboration between four children’s hospices to achieve the goals of one family for end-of-life care.

Aims We share this case to highlight the importance and achievability of effective collaboration between multiple hospices.

Methods We present a short reflection from each of the four hospices outlining what the service provided to support the family together with a central narrative of the case, family goals and how the hospices worked together to achieve this.

Results The acute subspecialist hospital that made the diagnosis was supported by their local hospice to access specialist palliative medical reviews, symptom planning and coordination, and were prepared to provide hospice-based end-of-life care if too unstable to transfer. When the family decided to access care at a hospice close to their extended family, this hospice was able to also accept a referral. The specialist medical advice for this hospice out of hours comes from a third children’s hospice. These three hospices then worked closely together to plan transfer and complex symptom management. Additionally, the hospice local to their home accepted a referral, to be able to support in bereavement on return home. The family involved have subsequently provided positive feedback on their experiences.

Conclusion For this family, access to four children’s hospices concurrently was able to achieve important goals of care.

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