GLOBAL TREEHOUSE FOUNDATION

We are building a community of providers, funders and experts that are interested in bringing entrepreneurial expertise and innovation to address the global lack of access to children’s palliative care. Because every child should receive the support they need in order to live their lives to the fullest, no matter their health conditions.

What do we mean by children’s palliative care?

We often get asked what children’s palliative care is. It is that field of healthcare that looks after children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, giving them and their families space, be that emotional or physical, to live the best possible quality of life. It includes care to manage pain and other distressing symptoms, respite breaks for families, care at the end of life and bereavement support. It can be provided in tertiary care facilities, children’s hospices, community health centres, and children’s own homes. 

CONTEXT

Access to children’s palliative care is a human right. According to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, "children are entitled to quality health services, including prevention, promotion, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care services.’’ It is an essential part of the continuum of care as supported by resolutions of the United Nations, the World Health Assembly, and Sustainable Development Goal 3.

  • Following the World Health Organisation’, we are taking a broad definition of health innovation as encompassing the novel creation, adoption or adaption of policies, practices, systems, technologies, services and delivery methods within children’s palliative care, to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, quality, safety or affordability of the care available

    Some key examples of innovations in children's palliative are in action can be found in our published report here

    More information on children’s palliative care can be found on the International Children’s Pallliative Care Network’s website, and the World Health Organisation’s website

    UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, General Comment No. 15, The right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, CRC/C/GC/15, 17 April 2013, paras. 2 and 25.

    WHA Resolution “Strengthening of palliative care as a component of comprehensive care throughout the life course”, WHA67.19, 9th plenary meeting, A67/VR/9, 24 May 2014.

    Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing