What is Oxfordshire Children and Young People’s Integrated Palliative Care Service?

This is a collaborative project between Helen House and the Oxford City Primary Care Trust Community Children's Nursing Team (CCNT).

The project, which has been funded by the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) will run over a three year period. The service will develop during this time to achieve the following vision.

The project aims to work with existing services to provide an integrated 24-hour home care service for children and young people with life-limiting conditions. This may be during an intercurrent illness, where hospitalisation may not be appropriate, or at the end of life.

The Community Children's Nursing Team will liaise closely with the family and other professionals. A key component of this will be the team at Helen House. The doctors will provide 24-hour medical advice and support to the CCNT. The CCNT will be able to admit children to the hospice if necessary.

The Children’s Integrated Palliative Care Service fully endorses the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, in particular Article 3 – the Child’s right to have their best interests given the most importance when adults make decisions about them and Article 12 – the right of the child to say what they think and be listened to by adults when they make decisions about them.