Derbyshire Children Denied Home Deaths

A critical report has revealed that terminally ill children in Derbyshire are being prevented from dying at home, contrary to their wishes. The Derby and Derbyshire Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) has urgently called for improvements in end-of-life care, noting that concerns have been raised for years without resolution.

The panel identified several key problems affecting palliative and end-of-life care for children in the county. These include a lack of 24-hour nursing support for families who wish for their child to die at home. Furthermore, there are limitations in accessing expert medical advice and appropriately trained doctors outside standard working hours.

Additional challenges detailed in the report involve difficulties in obtaining essential medications for these children. Communication issues also arise from disparate IT systems across health organizations. Concerns were also raised for 16 and 17-year-olds with life-limiting conditions who may fall between pediatric and adult services, as well as delays in out-of-hours death verification causing further distress to families.