Abstract

Better Care, Better Lives (2008) sets out a strategy for the future direction of children's palliative care services in order to improve the outcomes and experiences for children and young people living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and their families. CSM has collected information on the features of palliative care services and PCT joint commissioning arrangements for palliative care since the 2007/08 exercise. In 2008/09, further questions were asked of PCT commissioners about the funding of, and care pathway arrangements for, palliative care services and the PCTs involvement in palliative care planning groups. In 2009/10, questions also included the PCT having a lead for disability, complex health needs and palliative care and quality and performance standards for palliative care provision. At the service level in the 2009/10 exercise, there were changes to the questions about types of palliative care provision and new questions about bereavement support were introduced. Palliative care services were also asked a range of service level disability questions. The results of these can be found in the disability topic report.

Data issues

Additional questions were added at an organisation level in the 2008/09 and 2009/10 exercises. This is noted above individual tables. At the service level, in the 2006/07 and 2007/08 exercise services were asked if palliative care was a focus of their work. If they answered yes they were then asked about the features of the service. In the 2008/09 exercise palliative care was introduced as a service type and the same follow up questions were asked. The service type follow up questions were changed for the 2009/10 mapping exercise.

Relevant Policy Documents

• AH: Department for Children, Schools and Families (2007) Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families. London: TSO.
• BCBL: DH (2008) Better Care, Better Lives: Improving outcomes and experiences for children, young people and their families living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. London: TSO.