Palliative Care for Children and Young People

31 March 2025

What is paediatric palliative care?

Paediatric palliative care is care and support for children and young adults with a life limiting illness. It focuses on comfort and quality of life for the child and support for the whole family/whānau.


Palliative care is available at any time throughout a child’s life, especially during times when the child is more unwell, and prognosis is uncertain. These can be challenging times when decision making is often difficult. Palliative care can help by working alongside everyone involved in the care of the child from the hospital through to the community teams, making sure the unique needs of each child and family/whānau are recognised, understood and met. Palliative care can be provided alongside other treatments.

Who are we?

The Hospice Palliative Care Service is a large multidisciplinary team which includes specialist doctors, nurses, allied health and family support professionals. The team is based at Nurse Maude Hospice but most of the time works in the community. The Paediatric Palliative Clinical Nurse Specialist is part of this team. Children and young people are always cared for in collaboration with the primary paediatrician, general practitioner and other health professionals.

What can palliative care provide?

  • Management of symptoms to keep the child as comfortable as possible and able to do the things important to them 
  • Coordination of care and liaison with doctors and other health professionals
  • Care in the setting of choice (home, hospital or hospice) whenever possible
  • Assistance with making informed decisions about treatment and care including advance care plans
  • Support for children, family/whānau and friends
  • Hospice admission if necessary
  • Grief and bereavement support

How to get referred

A referral can be made to the Paediatric Palliative Clinical Nurse Specialist through the Nurse Maude Hospice Palliative Care Service. Referrals can be made by paediatricians, general practitioners, community health providers or staff at Christchurch Hospital.

24-hour contact

Advice is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from the hospice if required.

Download this article as a brochure

We Promise...

  • Your enquiries will beresponded to promptly
  • You will be treated withcourtesy and respect
  • You will be listened to, and involved in, all aspects of the care we provide
  • Explanations will be provided in a way you can understand
  • You will receive a promptand helpful response to any problem
  • You can rely on a continuously improving service
Bright hospital room with two beds, windows, a table, and a sink in the foreground.

Nurse Maude welcomes investment in paediatric palliative care

14 May 2026
Nurse Maude welcomes the Government’s announcement of 15.5 million in additional funding for paediatric palliative care, recognising the difference this will make for children, young people and their whānau across Aotearoa. Louise Zacest, Chief Executive of Nurse Maude, says the investment acknowledges the complexity and importance of providing compassionate, specialist care at some of life’s most challenging times. “Caring for children with life-limiting conditions, and supporting their families, requires highly skilled, multidisciplinary teams and a strong network of services. This funding is an important step toward strengthening that support for families when they need it most.” In Canterbury, Nurse Maude already provides specialist paediatric palliative care both in the community and within its hospice, supported through a combination of its own investment and the generosity of its community. “We are proud to have specialist paediatric palliative nurses as part of our team, delivering care wherever it is needed — whether that’s in a child’s home or in our hospice,” says Zacest. Nurse Maude’s new hospice, opening on 17 June, has been thoughtfully designed to support children and their families, including dedicated paediatric facilities and an adjoining room so whānau can stay close to their child during inpatient care. This space has been made possible through a generous bequest from Cantabrian Mr Cyril Smith.
Smiling man with “Delivering trusted, quality care since 1896” text and 130-year anniversary badge on blue background

Nurse Maude awarded Highly Commended in Readers Digest Trusted Brands

1 May 2026
We are delighted to share that Nurse Maude has been recognised in the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands awards, receiving a Highly Commended award in the “Home Health Care” category in both 2025 and 2026.