Diana, Princess of Wales Children's Community Team: An evaluation of a multiprofessional service for children with life-limiting illnesses

Abstract

Caring for children with life-limiting illnesses in their own homes calls for an informed and knowledgeable healthcare professional. Personal attributes such as compassion and the willingness to take on the role of an 'informed friend' to the child, parents and siblings is crucial, as is the ability to recognise and respect the skills of the parents in caring for their child. As a memorial to the life and work of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, Diana Children's Community Teams were established across the United Kingdom to care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. This paper describes the evaluation of the Diana Service in Leicester and the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland. The evaluation has sought to identify the perceptions of the families, the service-users and providers. Both the families and the professionals who access the service have highlighted the need for the enhancement and further development of such an important and invaluable children's community service. Children with life-limiting illnesses and their families require and deserve a seamless service, and the evaluation recommends that this framework of care be developed for other teams of children's community services across the country.