{
  "abstract": "Background Adult hospice services are typically provided to patients ≥18. The importance of supporting young adults to transition from children’s to adult services is well recognised (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Transition from children’s to adults’ services for young people using health or social care services. [NG43] NICE; 2016), with many examples of innovation addressing this challenging period (Noyes, Pritchard, Rees, et al. Bridging the gap: transition from children’s to adult palliative care. Bangor University; 2014). In this case a young person with metastatic Ewing’s sarcoma expressed a wish to be supported by adult services for end of life care, rather than the local children’s hospice. The young person was not expected to reach their 18th birthday.Aim To support end of life care for a 16-year-old cancer patient under adult palliative care services.Method An enquiry was received from the hospital’s Teenage and Young Adult Palliative Care Team. The hospice contacted the Care Quality Commission to review and advise on their statement of purpose. Hospice insurance was reviewed along with safeguarding training requirements. The medical director undertook an initial assessment in the patient’s home with a Teenage and Young Adult palliative care CNS and children’s community nurse. A risk assessment was completed and the wider hospice multidisciplinary team agreed that they could meet the needs of the young person.Result The statement of purpose was updated to read ‘palliative care services for adults, and young adults aged over 16 in certain circumstances,’ and the patient accepted onto the caseload. Outpatient reviews were undertaken jointly with paediatric oncology and psychology services at the hospice (‘safety net’). A community care plan was put in place involving collaboration between adult and children’s services to cover 24/7 support. The patient was admitted to the hospice inpatient unit two weeks before their death, along with their own sofa from home. Complex pain was managed, and family and friends were supported.Conclusion Hospice care puts patients at the centre of service development. Collaborative working across traditional health and social care boundaries allowed a creative solution to meet the needs of this individual young person.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Chichester, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Claire Magee"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Chichester, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Sam Stannard"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Chichester, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Linda Field"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Chichester, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Suzy O’Callaghan"
    }
  ],
  "title": "O-03 ‘A big safety net’: collaborative working to support care of a 16-year-old in an adult hospice",
  "uid": "a33b6214-8ba4-5f72-bd8e-239db588a333"
}