Claire House

Claire House Children’s Hospice helps seriously and terminally ill children/young adults live life to the full by creating wonderful experiences and bringing back a sense of normality to family life.

By providing specialist nursing care and emotional support we help families smile again when life couldn’t get any tougher.

Claire House has a team of trained professionals who are as passionate about what they do as they are talented at doing it. Our staff includes nurses, carers, therapists, music & play specialists and counsellors.

Claire House Wirral provides care and support for those with a life threatening/life limiting condition

There are likewise facilitates at our Liverpool site in West Derby

Eligibility Criteria

Child/young person is aged 0-18 years

Referrals for end of life care up to the age of 23

An infant under 18 months old with an uncertain prognosis

The child/young person usually lives in the Claire House catchment area

Child/young person has a recognised life-limiting/life threatening condition in one of the categories below.

Like most Children’s hospices, our eligibility criteria are based on the four broad groups of children who may require palliative care developed by Together for Short Lives. The groups are described below:

1. Life threatening conditions for which a cure may be feasible but can fail.

Access to palliative care services may be necessary when treatment fails or during an acute crisis.

Examples: cancer, irreversible organ failures of the heart, liver, kidney.

2. Conditions where premature death is inevitable.

There may be long periods of intensive treatment aimed at prolonging life allowing participation in normal activities.

Examples: cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

3. Progressive conditions without curative treatment options.

Treatment is exclusively palliative and may commonly extend over many years.

Examples: Battens disease, mucopolysaccharidoses.

4. Irreversible but non-progressive conditions causing severe disability leading to susceptibility to health complications and likelihood of premature death.

Examples: severe cerebral palsy, multiple disabilities and complex health care needs such as following a brain or spinal cord injury, where there is a high risk of an unpredictable life-threatening event or episode.

The suitability of hospice care for children who fall into the fourth group must meet additional criteria and would take into account the medical information provided and an assessment of each child’s needs.

REFERRALS MUST BE MADE ONLINE VIA OUR ONLINE REFERRAL FORM https://www.clairehouse.org.uk/parents/ways-we-can-help-you/

We take referrals from professionals/families and self-referrals

For those with a life threatening/life limiting condition - Claire House offers a wide range of services including symptom management, specialist palliative care, respite, day-care, groups, family support/counselling/clinical psychology, sibling support, physio, OT, complimentary support, play therapy, music therapy, transitional support, bereavement support and various groups.