Palliative care for children

Palliative care is the phase of treatment where cure is no longer possible.

What is palliative care for children?

Palliative care is the phase of treatment where cure is no longer possible. Palliative care describes the supportive care and treatment given to ease symptoms and improve quality of life, but with the knowledge that it will not lead to a cure. 

Palliative care is an approach that aims to ensure your child’s comfort and dignity are the priority. Some children may require palliative care from the time of their diagnosis; others only as their condition deteriorates. 

Palliative care aims to enable a child and their family to get on with daily life and be as independent for as long as possible in the most satisfying way they can, within the limits of their illness.

You matter because you’re you and you matter to the end of your life

— Dame Cicely Saunders

Who will be involved?

A team of people from different disciplines and different organisations, some of whom will already be well known to you, will come together to plan your child’s care. The clinical nurse coordinator forms a link between you, the hospital and your community specialist palliative care team. This team may include:

  • Hospital consultant
  • Clinical nurse coordinator
  • Clinical nurse specialist
  • Palliative care consultant
  • Palliative care nurse specialist
  • Social worker
  • Your GP
  • Public health nurses
  • Community palliative care team

The progression of your child’s disease to this stage may have been expected, or come as a total shock to you. Either way, you are most likely feeling devastated. Good practical support from professionals may help to relieve the stress and help families find ways to manage. We hope that we, along with family, friends and the professionals you are dealing with, will be of some support to you. 

Our supports

Night nursing for children

The Irish Cancer Society's Night Nursing service is available so that you and your child will receive nursing care, practical support and reassurance in your own home. We aim to keep your child comfortable and free of pain. Your nurse will work with you to give your child the highest standard of nursing care and ensure their comfort and dignity throughout the night. The night nurse will usually attend from the hours of 11pm – 7am.

All Night Nurses are registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), Garda vetted and are employees of the Irish Cancer Society.

How to request a night nurse

1)   First, contact the health professional who is looking after your child- they need to make the request. The health professional that can make these requests are:

  • Member of the community palliative care team
  • Member of the palliative care services in hospital
  • General practitioner
  • Public health nurse

2)   Once your health professional makes the booking, we make contact with a local night nurse, and arrange for the nurse to visit your family.

Unfortunately, we can't take Night Nursing bookings directly from you, but if you have any questions about the service, phone the Support Line on Freephone 1800 200 700.

Precious times - A palliative care handbook for parents of children with cancer

This booklet gives you and your family information that will help you during this difficult time. It provides information about symptoms and available treatments and suggestions for simple things that you can do at home to help your child.

It also includes information on supports and services available to your family and how you can contact these services for help and advice when you need them.

You can order a copy from our Support Line 1800 200 700 or download it.

Precious times - A palliative care handbook for parents of children with cancer
Precious times - A palliative care handbook for parents of children with cancer
Booklet 33 pages 1.38 MB
This book is designed for families of children who have advanced cancer. The purpose of this book is to give you and your family information to help you during palliative care.

We're here to help

Our range of free services are here for you

CAYA Night Nursing
We provide end-of-life care for child, adolescent and young-adult cancer patients in their own homes.
Julie Wren Complementary therapies
The Irish Cancer Society funds a haven on St John’s Ward in Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, which provides massage, reflexology, mindfulness and meditation to children.
CAYA counselling and psychological support services
Free counselling for families affected by childhood cancer.

Talk to a Cancer Nurse

Support Line

Support Line

Our Cancer Nurses offer confidential advice, support and information for anyone affected by cancer. Call or email supportline@irishcancer.ie. Video calls available. Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Support Line

In-hospital support

The Irish Cancer Society's Children’s Cancer Nurse at Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin Hospital one day per week provides free, confidential advice, support and information to anyone affected by a child’s cancer.
In-hospital support