Gaps in NHS end-of-life care ‘denying ill children chance to die at home’
Summary
Many seriously ill children in parts of England cannot get the home care they need to die at home, forcing them to die in hospitals instead. The NHS is legally required to provide round-the-clock end-of-life care at home, but many local health boards are not meeting this duty.Key Facts
- About 1,600 children under 19 with life-limiting conditions die each year in England.
- NHS integrated care boards (ICBs) manage local health services and must provide home end-of-life care by law.
- 36% of ICBs do not provide this home care, and only 31% fully meet the legal requirement.
- Children who want to die at home often end up in hospital emergency rooms or admitted to hospitals.
- Financial problems and misunderstanding of children’s palliative needs contribute to poor service.
- The government’s updated palliative care framework left out references to children that were in earlier drafts.
- Families say dying at home makes a big difference, but many cannot access this option.
- Delays and lack of suitable social care increase hospital stays for seriously ill children.
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