Paediatric Palliative Care in Aotearoa

In Aotearoa, there are approximately 350 children who die of a serious illness each year. There are also 3,500 children living with serious illness and medical fragility who would benefit from Paediatric Palliative Care support. Many of these children (over 80%} will have a non-cancer condition and live with significant neurodisability.

This means families are often providing complex medical care to their children over many years, including 'hospital in the home' care - support from ventilators, feeding devices, suction, and complex medication regimens.

This all has an impact on the quality of life of children and their whanau, and it is necessary to consider how comfort and quality of life can be optimised to support children to reach their full potential, and to be able to access our communities (attend school, and live fulfilling lives, for whatever time that might be).

Freemasons Foundation is proudly supporting the development and delivery nationwide by the University of Auckland of a Paediatric Palliative Care short course to help meet the needs of children and families across NZ.