Sarah HallChildren who are nearing the end of their lives will now be offered a specialist round-the-clock nursing service in their own homes.Sarah Hall

Children who are nearing the end of their lives will now be offered a specialist round-the-clock nursing service in their own homes.

NHS Norfolk has commissioned the East Anglian Children's Hospice (EACH) at Quidenham to provide on-call specialist nursing at home for youngsters who are terminally ill.

At the most difficult time imaginable for any family, a team of hospice nurses will bring palliative care, management of symptoms and support at home whenever it is required, day or night.

The 24/7 on-call service began just four days ago and it forms an extra component of the extensive service already provided by the care team at EACH.

Maureen Carson, NHS Norfolk's chief nurse, said: 'By funding home visits day or night we can offer real and practical support to families who choose to look after their very seriously ill children at home.

'The team from EACH have vast experience in providing palliative care. They offer a very dedicated, caring ser-vice to children and their families at Quidenham itself and I am pleased that we are able to work together.'

Until now, the hospice has only been able to offer planned short breaks in the family home, which is really appreciated by families, and emergency out of hours advice and support by telephone.

Now, due to the funding from NHS Norfolk, EACH has been able to put in place a formal home visiting service, staffed by their own paediatric nurses and with the aim of being on the doorstep within four hours.

Julia Shirtliffe, head of palliative care services for EACH at Quidenham, said: 'When facing the last difficult weeks, days and hours, families need to know they can call upon support any time of night and day from people who can offer the very specialist advice and care that their child needs.

'We know from past experience that many families appreciate this. We already offer care 24 hours a day to chil-dren, young people and families at our hospice and now this is extended to the home as well.'

Last year there were 23 children who died and who had been cared for and supported by EACH at Quidenham.

Ms Shirtliffe said the stage in a child's illness when palliative care is required can be 'quite lengthy' compared to adults.

Clinical care which the on-call nurses may need to perform include the setting up and managing syringe driver infusion pumps, which are used to deliver pain relief and symptom control at the end of life.

The clinical supervisor for this service is Dr Jo Ponnampalam, consultant paediatrician at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. She said: 'It is the right of every child and their family, especially during a child's terminal phase of an illness, to have access to specialist medical and nursing support and care.

'Furthermore, they should be given a choice of preferred place of death, for example hospice, home or hospital. Supporting families during this challenging journey can only help enhance their quality of life.'