Managing Palliative Care at Home

This paper outlines the principles of palliative care (PC) provision for sick children at home, in the UK. The differences between home and hospital with regard to the illness and availability and type of services and equipment are discussed. The need to plan for the availability of appropriate professional staff, equipment, medication, information and the procedure when the child dies is discussed. Successful PC at home is possible for most children, if plans are made for all potential eventualities. These principles of PC may be helpful in delivering PC at home in other countries.