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| Paediatric Palliative Care Network for Scotland | |
|---|---|
| Name | Paediatric Palliative Care Network for Scotland |
| Type | Health network |
| Founded | 2000s |
| Location | Scotland |
| Area served | Scotland |
| Services | Paediatric palliative care coordination, clinical guidelines, education |
Paediatric Palliative Care Network for Scotland is a coordinating framework for specialist paediatric palliative care across Scotland that brings together clinical teams, health boards, hospices and charitable organisations to improve care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. The Network links clinical providers with academic centres and policy bodies to support integrated service delivery, workforce development and evidence-based practice across urban and rural settings.
The Network operates as an alliance of NHS Scotland specialities, regional paediatric units, children's hospices and third sector partners including Marie Curie, Children's Hospices Across Scotland, and local health boards such as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian, NHS Grampian to coordinate clinical pathways, standards and workforce planning. It interfaces with academic institutions like University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of Aberdeen and research centres such as MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and Scottish Clinical Research Collaboration to translate research into practice. The Network works within policy frameworks shaped by the Scottish Parliament, NHS Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and national strategies influenced by charities including Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and National Children’s Bureau.
Origins trace to early 2000s cross-sector initiatives linking paediatric oncology units at Royal Hospital for Children (Glasgow), Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, and regional paediatric services in Dundee and Inverness following guidance from organisations such as Royal College of Nursing and reports by Scottish Executive. Subsequent development involved collaboration with hospice pioneers including Rachel House and CHAS (Children's Hospices Across Scotland), integration of standards from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and engagement with international bodies like European Association for Palliative Care and World Health Organization. Major milestones involved establishment of regional coordination roles, publication of care pathways endorsed by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and formal partnerships with academic units at University of Stirling and Queen Margaret University.
Governance is provided through multi-stakeholder boards comprising representatives from NHS regional paediatric services, hospice trusts such as Eden Valley Hospice and academic partners including Glasgow Caledonian University. Strategic oversight aligns with regulatory bodies including Care Inspectorate and professional colleges like Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine and Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Clinical governance integrates protocols from specialised units such as Royal Hospital for Children (Glasgow) paediatric palliative teams, and links with national emergency services like Scottish Ambulance Service for care transitions. The Network liaises with policy actors including members of the Scottish Parliament and national funders such as Scottish Government health directorates.
Services include care coordination, symptom management, advance care planning and family support delivered through collaborations among paediatric teams in Ninewells Hospital, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, and hospice services in Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Highlands. Clinical pathways draw on specialities including paediatric oncology at Velindre Cancer Centre equivalents, neonatal services at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and neurology clinics at specialist centres. The Network supports home-based care facilitated by community nursing teams, palliative care consultants, and multi-disciplinary teams that include specialists from Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Society for Acute Medicine, and allied professions trained at institutions like University of Dundee. Coordination with tertiary centres such as Great Ormond Street Hospital and outreach via telemedicine builds links with cross-border services.
Regional hubs in the Central Belt, North and Highlands, and South collaborate with local health boards including NHS Forth Valley, NHS Highland, NHS Tayside, and community partners like Barnardo's and Save the Children for family support. Partnerships extend to legal and ethical advisory bodies such as British Medical Association ethics committees and liaison with social care providers overseen by Care Inspectorate. International linkages include exchange with networks like Children's Hospice International and collaboration on guideline development with the European Association for Palliative Care.
The Network sponsors educational programmes and clinical fellowships delivered with universities including University of Strathclyde, St Andrews University, and professional bodies such as Royal College of Nursing. Training covers symptom control, communication skills, bereavement support and ethics with input from research units like MRC Centre for Inflammation Research and networks such as Scottish School of Primary Care. Research priorities encompass outcome measurement, models of community palliative care and health services implementation studies in collaboration with funders including Chief Scientist Office (Scotland) and charities like Wellcome Trust. Outputs have been presented at conferences hosted by European Association for Palliative Care and published by collaborators from University of Edinburgh.
Funding is mixed, combining allocations from NHS regional budgets, philanthropic support from organisations such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Children in Need, and grants from national bodies including Scottish Government health directorates and research funders like National Institute for Health Research. Policy guidance is informed by statutory frameworks from NHS Scotland and oversight by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and intersects with legislation debated in the Scottish Parliament on children’s services, social care and end-of-life care. Financial sustainability relies on partnership funding models with third sector organisations and local authority contributions.
Category:Health care in Scotland Category:Paediatric palliative care