Since the publication of the first care pathway in 2004, ACT (now Together for Short Lives) has been nationally and internationally recognised as setting the standards for the care received by life-limited babies, children and young people. A number of other resources have been developed based on these standards.
They have now updated their Standards Framework for children’s palliative care which sets out the key standards that form the back bone of these four care pathways, for easy reference. It also includes self-assessment audit tools relating to these standards,to allow organisations to map how their service currently performs and think about how to develop the areas where the standards may not be fully met.
Together for Short Lives promotes a care pathway approach to children’s palliative care and has produced three care pathways which relate to different age groups, and a further one specifically focused on making choices surrounding the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. Giving families real choice is key to the care pathway approach: a choice of place of care, a choice of place of death, a choice of emotional and bereavement support, and putting the child and family at the centre of decision making to produce a care plan that is right for them.
Together for Short Lives publishes four care pathways:
- A Neonatal Care Pathway for Babies with Palliative Care Needs (for babies)
- A Core Care Pathway for Children with Life-threatening and Life-limiting Conditions
- A Transition Care Pathway (for young people)
- A Care Pathway to Support Extubation within a Children’s Palliative Care Framework
You can download this updated resource for free here.
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