Paediatric Palliative Care in Singapore

Abstract

Paediatric palliative care is the “Cinderella” of the palliative movement in the world. It is lagging behind adult palliative movement for a variety of reasons. In Singapore, the situation is no different: the adult palliative services are more developed and more accepted by the medical community as well as the public. When it comes to paediatric palliative services, there is a denial of its necessity and a lack of resources and support. However, the winds of change are here and there is currently a formal Paediatric Palliative Care Programme in the only children’s hospital in Singapore, the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. More funding is in the pipeline and the programme is set to expand. Paediatric palliative care has its own unique challenges and barriers which may make it difficult for adult services to serve paediatric palliative needs. There are many misconceptions about what palliative care is about and what role it should play in paediatric care, even amongst doctors. Hopefully with increasing awareness and better availability of services, and best of all, when the end-users (physicians as well as patient and family) experience the added value of palliative care, there would be better acceptance and utilisation of paediatric palliative services so that it becomes a necessary part of basic holistic health care for children with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses.