L K Fraser1, J Aldridge, S Manning, S O'Leary, M Miller, R McCulloch, A M Childs. 1. Paediatric Epidemiology Group, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Of Leeds, Level 8 Worsley Building, Room 8-49, Clarendon Way, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. l.k.fraser@leeds.ac.uk
Abstract
AIM: To identify the nature of services for children and young people with progressive neuromuscular disorders (NMD) provided by Children's Hospices in the UK. METHODS: A questionnaire requesting aggregate data on the number of patients with a neuromuscular condition was sent to all children's hospices in the UK, in addition, specific data was collected on services for young people with DMD presenting to a single local hospice. RESULTS: 87% of eligible hospices responded (27/31). 756 young people with an NM condition were being cared for by the hospices. These patients accounted for a mean of 17% of the total hospice population (range 5-35%). The age at which young people were required to leave the children's hospices varied from 18 up to 35 years. 73% of 'visits' were described as 'planned stays'. Although 'end of life care' is provided, few young people with NMD died in a hospice. CONCLUSIONS: Children and young people with NMD form a large proportion of the Children's Hospice's caseload. Many valued services provided by children's hospices are not available through NHS funding. The lack of similar adult based services is a concern as increasing numbers of young people are surviving into adulthood. Crown
AIM: To identify the nature of services for children and young people with progressive neuromuscular disorders (NMD) provided by Children's Hospices in the UK. METHODS: A questionnaire requesting aggregate data on the number of patients with a neuromuscular condition was sent to all children's hospices in the UK, in addition, specific data was collected on services for young people with DMD presenting to a single local hospice. RESULTS: 87% of eligible hospices responded (27/31). 756 young people with an NM condition were being cared for by the hospices. These patients accounted for a mean of 17% of the total hospice population (range 5-35%). The age at which young people were required to leave the children's hospices varied from 18 up to 35 years. 73% of 'visits' were described as 'planned stays'. Although 'end of life care' is provided, few young people with NMD died in a hospice. CONCLUSIONS:Children and young people with NMD form a large proportion of the Children's Hospice's caseload. Many valued services provided by children's hospices are not available through NHS funding. The lack of similar adult based services is a concern as increasing numbers of young people are surviving into adulthood. Crown
Authors: Gerlinde Pilkington; Katherine Knighting; Lucy Bray; Julia Downing; Barbara A Jack; Michelle Maden; Ceu Mateus; Jane Noyes; Mary R O'Brien; Brenda Roe; Anthony Tsang; Sally Spencer Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-06-17 Impact factor: 2.692