Background: The provision of holistic family centred healthcare for children and their families is a key component of achieving good palliative care. Advances in Assisted Technology along with access to funding packages, has brought more possibilities in holistic care for children who require support for deteriorating bodily functions and become reliant on technology to prolong the quantity of their life. As technology continues to develop, the ethical consideration of "just because we can, should we" arises.
Aims: To ensure holistic healthcare provision for children and their families who require the assistance of advanced technology in an ethical and appropriate manner.
Method: This qualitative study used three approaches to highlight the emerging assisted technologies that families have access to and the impact on the provision of palliative and supportive care in the community setting.
A phenomenological approached explored the importance of tailoring care to support families goals for their child whilst also considering the challenges this evokes for healthcare professionals to provide supportive and sustainable palliative care.
Two descriptive studies incorporating photographic ethnography were used to further highlight the collaborative skills, delineation of roles and family impact of challenging what is possible for the changing landscape of Paediatric Palliative Care.
Results: Emerging changes to practice are occurring as Assisted Technological advances continue to be made. The incorporation of this emerging aspect of care within Paediatric Palliative Care is essential and has ensured that children requiring Assisted technology to prolong their life can be supported to live and die in the right place, at the right time with the right support around them.