Hospice care for children
Childrens' hospices provide specialist respite and terminal care for children suffering from life limiting conditions in a home-to-home environment. The care is based in a small purpose built unit as well as in the home, enabling families to remain together in peace, comfort, and dignity.
By sharing the child's medical and day-to-day care with qualified professionals, the children and their families are able to spend more quality time together in what may be the concluding moments of the child's life. Above and beyond everything, children's hospices are places that focus on helping a life-limited child live their life to the full. Medical care and psychological and spiritual support is provided for the child and their family at no cost to them for as long as is necessary, including post bereavement support. Hospice care treats the child, not the disease; focuses on the family, not the individual; and emphasizes the quality of life, not the duration. Care and services provided by a hospiceThe care provided by a hospice may take the form of regular short stays for the child or for the whole family together. Also, families may just need a short break, which is also a service that hospices can provide. They also provide emergency and end of life care; specialist advice and expertise; practical help and information; and 24-hour telephone support. Hospice care is also free. The hospice care teamHospice care relies on the combined knowledge and skill of an interdisciplinary team of professionals, including doctors, nurses, home carers, social workers, counsellors, and volunteers. Applying for hospice careThe usual route for receiving hospice care is to ask the child's GP or paediatrician to make a referral for hospice care. The two hospices that cover North Yorkshire, Butterwick children's hospice and Martin House children's hospice are available to talk generally to any parent or young person about the services they offer. Their contact details can be found below.  | |  | | Related information from NHS Choices
Carers Direct - end of life careCaring for someone with a long-term condition or illness can last a few weeks or months or for many years. You may need to consider a range of options in order to fulfil their wishes and to ensure they receive the best care possible at the end of their life. For more information, see the End of life carepage in the Carers Direct section of NHS Choices. Carers Direct - finding a hospiceA quarter of a million patients are cared for by hospices in the UK each year, either in a hospice or in their own home. For more information, see the Finding a hospicepage in the Carers Direct section of NHS Choices. Live Well - End of life careInformation on end of life carefrom the Live Well section of NHS Choices. The section includes information on what is end of life care?; end of life care - the time you have left; pain relief; where can I die?; coping financially; and your rights and choices. .gif "Content supplied by NHS Choices")
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Social care
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- ACT - valuing short lives
ACT works across the UK to achieve the best possible quality of life and care for every child who has a life-limiting or life-threatening condition and their family.
- Children’s Hospices UK
Children’s Hospices UK is a national charity that gives voice and support to children’s hospice services. Their vision is for every child and young person who is not expected to reach adulthood to have access to the highest standards of care and support.
- Martin House Children's Hospice
Martin House Hospice care for children and young people with progressive life limiting illnesses and provide support to their families. They are based in Wetherby and care for children and young people throughout the Yorkshire region.
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Customer services centre (social care enquiries)
Full contact details for the customer services centre, including how to call in personally, can be found below.
social.care@northyorks.gov.uk
Tel: 0845 034 9410
Fax: 01609 532009
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Complaints and commendations manager (children's social care)
Contact details for the complaints and commendations manager (children's social care) can be found below.
cyps.contactus@northyorks.gov....
Tel: 01609 534193
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Butterwick children's hospice
general@butterwick.org.uk
Tel: 01642 607742
Fax: 01642 617641
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Martin House children's hospice
admin@martinhouse.org.uk
Tel: 01937 845045
Fax: 01937 541363
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