Government calls for home care for terminally ill children
Terminally ill children in England should be able to receive specialist care at home instead of hospital, the government says.
The Department of Health has told local health chiefs that care should be tailored to individuals’ needs and should include the option of care at home using nurse-led community services.
A Commons Health Committee report last year found that many terminally ill patients were denied their wish to die at home.
Care Services Minister Liam Byrne said: "Very ill children who need palliative care deserve much more choice about the way they receive that care.
"Many families tell us they want more care at home, so we're asking the NHS to change.
"If a child wants to stay at home, they should be allowed to do so.
