NICE Guidance: End of life care for infants, children and young people

This guideline covers the planning and management of end of life and palliative care in for infants, children and young people (aged 0–17 years) with life-limiting conditions. It aims to involve children, young people and their families in decisions about their care, and improve the support that is available to them throughout their lives.

The guideline does not cover children and young people without a life-limiting condition who die unexpectedly (for example, accidental death).

Recommendations

This guideline includes recommendations on:

• Advance Care Planning
• emotional and psychological support and interventions
• managing distressing symptoms, such as pain, agitation, seizures or respiratory distress
• hydration and nutrition
• recognising that a child or young person is likely to die within hours or days
• care and support for parents, carers and healthcare professionals after the death of a child or young person
• care at home

Who is it for?

• Health and social care professionals
• All other professionals involved in caring for infants, children and young people with life-limiting conditions (for example, education professionals and chaplains)
• Commissioners and providers
• Children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families and carers

For more, visit: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-cgwave0730