WA set to welcome first children's hospice

Artist render of the Children's Hospice Project

August 7, 2020

Premier Mark McGowan today unveiled plans for WA’s first children’s hospice to provide care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

With an estimated 2,000 children in WA living with a life-limiting illness, the hospice will support children and their families throughout all stages of their journey – from early diagnosis, during the continuum of their condition, through to end of life with support for families in bereavement.

In line with Sustainable Health Review recommendation 9 'achieve respectful and appropriate end of life care and choices', the hospice will be delivered in partnership with Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF) and Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS).

The hospice will provide specialist respite and palliative care for children aged up to 18 years throughout WA. Children and young people will receive the highest levels of person-centred care and complex symptom management in an environment that is safe and supported. They and their families will benefit from a multidisciplinary approach to support them to live as well as possible. The hospice will provide children and families a choice in place of care at the end of life and ongoing support in bereavement.

CAHS will extend the current Paediatric Palliative Care Service to provide specialist staff at the hospice in the following key service areas:

Care for children who have a life-limiting diagnosis who often require 24/7 care. The hospice will care for these children for a period of time allowing their families much needed respite.
Support for families – mum, dad, brother, sister, grandma, aunty – as this affects them all.
End of life care for children with the safety net of clinical care in the comfort of a highly respectful and supported environment.
State-wide bereavement service for families following the death of a child.

The construction, fit-out and ongoing non-operational costs will be funded by PCHF, with CAHS to provide the ongoing clinical, governance and overall management funding.

"We look forward to providing a home away from home for these families to feel safe and supported, and to provide choice in their decision making, so they can celebrate their precious child’s live – no matter how long or short it may be.” Health Minister, Roger Cook said.