Recently a group of 12 Health Care professionals from the Cesta Domů hospice in Prague, Czech Republic, completed a short training course in paediatric palliative care. The course was presented by Maraliza de Haan, a consultant and trainer with the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN).
The training, which combined theoretical and practical training, took place in Prague during June 2015 and focused on psychosocial care provision to very sick children and their families. Topics included:
- Play and Childhood Development
- Communicating with children and families
- Psycho- Social assessment
- Breaking bad news,
- Counseling families
- Bereavement
- Spiritual care
Until recently, Cesta Domů only provided palliative care to adults, mainly focussing on home care. At the end of 2014, the organisation’s management made the decision to include the provision of palliative care to children, as this is very much needed in Prague. They have taken care of 4 children since then and are now in the process of equipping their staff with the necessary skills to provide a quality children’s palliative care programme.
Cesta Domů, under the leadership of a very positive team of managers and health care professionals, are now looking forward to enhancing their clinical and psychosocial knowledge by visiting existing children’s palliative care organisations and hospitals in Europe.
Providing this much needed service would bring relief and give support to many sick children and their families in the area of Prague.
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