“The PELiCaN Network mission is to ensure that any baby, child or young person who dies in Scotland has access to ‘gold standard’ end of life care from the point it is acknowledged that they are entering the end of life stage of their diagnosis.”
It is impossible to know exactly when a child nears the end of their life and the need for support for families and those who care for children continues well beyond the end of the child or young person’s life. PELiCaN aims to help everyone involved in caring for the child or young person to find the help they need and want in a form that works for them as individuals.
When the child or young person’s condition cannot be improved or symptoms are worsening despite palliative care measures, the time is right for end of life care. Children and young people often wish to be involved in their end of life care and to know that those they love and care about have had a chance to make memories and to prepare for their death.
When a baby, child or young person dies unexpectedly through complications at birth, cot death, accident, acute illness or suicide there is no time to prepare and the loss may be experienced in a different way.
PELiCaN recognises the many ways that families may find the support that can help them through these painful experiences. There are organisations offering palliative care and bereavement support and there is no ‘one size fits all’ for families.
Across Scotland services are delivered in different ways and the links on our website are those that families and staff tell us have helped them although there will be others. Every person is encouraged to keep reaching out for support in the ways that work for them. We welcome updates on new sources of information about services from anyone using our network and hope our website will be a place to give some useful links and contacts for those facing the effects of a child’s death.