Pediatric palliative care provided in hospital settings in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Introduction: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) in hospitals is the standard of care for children with life-limiting illnesses abroad. In many hospitals in the Czech Republic there are palliative care teams which also provide PPC.

Methods: The working group of the Czech Society of Palliative Medicine initiated data collection on a number of parameters of hospital PPC in the Czech Republic, which took place from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023. The aim was to map the provision of PPC in hospital setting.

Results: A total of 7 and 8 teams provided PPC in hospitals in the Czech Republic in 2022 and 2023, respectively. In 2022, 351 hospital admissions were initiated in the Czech Republic, of which 177 were unique births. In 2023, there were 510 hospitalization cases, these were 270 unique family numbers. PPC was initiated early in both years, in 74% and 79% of patients respectively. Most were children with a non-cancer diagnosis. The total number of interventions was 2,807 in 2022 and 5,746 in 2023. Over 80% of all palliative interventions in the Czech Republic were performed at the University Hospital in Motol. Representatives of all 4 key professions of the team were involved in the provision of PPC.

Conclusion. The provision of PPC in hospitals in the Czech Republic is at an early stage of development; many aspects of care in the Czech Republic correspond with international PPC standards.