Specialist Nursing Care

If your child has complex symptoms and medication regimes, the nursing and care team have the training, experience and knowledge to help manage their condition effectively. We will work in partnership with your child’s healthcare professionals and liaise directly with hospital staff or social workers to arrange a stay at one of our hospices to manage your child’s symptoms.  

Our nursing and care team can also help if your child is due to be admitted or is currently in hospice awaiting an operation and you need support after, or if you feel you could benefit from additional support around your child’s medication or symptoms. 

During your pregnancy, your baby may have been diagnosed with a complex medical condition. Our team of experienced family liaison practitioners, registered nurses and healthcare assistants are on hand to offer a range of support that you, your baby and family may need. 

Support includes counselling, special memory making, advocacy, help with financial and grant applications, benefits advice, sibling support and signposting.  

Support if your baby is born between 22-24 weeks 

At Demelza, we recognise that caring for an extremely premature baby can be an emotional and challenging time for the whole family. Our expert in-reach family liaison team aims to provide emotional and practical support, advice, guidance and the opportunity to share your feelings and worries during the first few months of your baby’s life.

Please speak to your medical team about including Demelza in your pregnancy planning or contact us and we can contact your medical team directly, with your consent. 

At Demelza we aim to be there for every child approaching the end of their life, and their family, every step of the way.

Demelza’s nursing and care teams will work closely with your child’s medical team to manage any symptoms your child may have in the best possible way whilst supporting the spiritual, cultural and emotional needs of the whole family. This care can be provided in either of our hospices and in the family home.

Demelza will work with hospital staff to support the removal of assisted ventilation and our bereavement suites and specialist equipment are available to support you to be close to your child for up to five days after they have died.

Our trained team will support you with memory making, such as hand and footprints, photographs, pieces of music or art and memory boxes. 

If it is your first time at Demelza, the referral will usually come from your child’s medical team. If we are not already involved, please tell us if your child deteriorates or is nearing the end of their life. If you have any questions, please contact our referrals team.