Launch of out-of-hours palliative care support line for children and young people in West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership has launched a six-month pilot of an out-of-hours advice line, providing vital support for families and professionals caring for children and young people with life-threatening and life-limiting health conditions. This initiative, a collaboration between the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), Martin House, and Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, aims to address the needs of families living in West Yorkshire and the professionals who also care for them. 

From 6pm to 8am on weeknights, and all day throughout the weekend, the advice line will be manned by specialist paediatric palliative care nurses and doctors from both hospices. It is designed to offer families much-needed reassurance, expert guidance, and signposting to appropriate services when they need it most, helping to reduce avoidable hospital admissions.

Sayma Mirza, Associate Director for Children Young People and Families, West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership said: ‘We know that families under hospice care value and benefit from having support round the clock and this pilot project should help us assess the level of unmet need, have a positive impact on reducing avoidable hospital admissions and increase patient choice. We are extremely grateful to the dedicated teams at Martin House and Forget Me Not children’s hospices who are hosting the new service on behalf of the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.”

Gareth Pierce, Chief Executive of Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, said: “We understand how frightening it can be for families when a crisis occurs during the night, and their usual healthcare teams are unavailable. This pilot service will provide families with peace of mind, knowing that compassionate, expert advice is a phone call away."

Clair Holdsworth, Chief Executive of Martin House, added: “We're delighted to collaborate on this project, which reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that every family facing such challenging circumstances has access to the right support at the right time. This service is another step towards making palliative care more accessible for all who need it in West Yorkshire."

The advice line is now live and can be reached at 0300 102 1391. Families and professionals across West Yorkshire are encouraged to make use of this service.