Symptom management nursing service

East of England Children's Hospices' nursing team provide specialist nursing advice and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is here to help improve quality of life by working closely with children and families to assess what specifically is difficult about a symptom before developing an appropriate and individualised management plan. 

You can contact the symptom management team emailing each.each.smns@nhs.net or calling 0808 196 9495.

Local information and support

Below you'll find information on different local and national organisations and charities who can help you in a range of areas.

Hospice care

Hospice UK explains about hospice care for children and young people. 

Additional information you might find useful

All these boxes below are the ones you can click on and they’ll expand and collapse

Eligibility and how to make a referral

Information on how to make a referral to East Anglia's Children's Hospices. Including eligibility criteria, how to make a referral and a selection of forms.

Family information leaflets

  • East Anglia's Children's Hospices - Information leaflets for families that cover a variety of aspects of their service from short break care, end of life care and wellbeing support. These include translated versions.
  • Together for Short Lives - Resources which aim to provide professionals with important information in regards to child and family wishes.

 

How to talk to other children about death and dying

There are a few national charities that offer support and guidance on talking to children about death and dying.

  • Hospice UK has a page dedicated to how to talk to children about death and dying which you might find useful.
  • Winston's Wish is a charity which provides grief and bereavement support for children and young people (up to 25) after the death of someone important, along with advice and support for the parents, carers and professionals supporting them.
  • Young Mindshas a page with information to help you support your child or young person with grief and loss. They've also got advice about where you can find grief support services.

Moving from children to adult services/transitions

There are several support services available to help you with this.

  • Arthur Rank Hospice Charity has information online for anyone aged 14-18 years old and beginning to think about the move from children to adult services. They provide supportive care to young adults from the age of 18 years old who live in Cambridgeshire and are diagnosed and living with complex or life-limiting conditions.
  • Sue Ryder has information on their website for young people trainsitioning to adult hospice care at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice. Through their transition programme, they help young people aged 14-18 and their families adjust to adult hospice care at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice. Here, you'll find information, advice and details of their transition programme, to see how their specialist team will support you if you are thinking of moving into adult care.
  • Together for Short Lives has a factsheet about how advances in medicine and technology mean that more children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions are living into adulthood, often with complex and unpredictable health needs. 

Patient Experience Team

Your views and experiences are important to us, and if you have questions, feedback, compliments, concerns or complaints about local NHS funded services, we want to hear from you. Visit out Patient Experience Team for more information.