Who is eligible to access hospice services?

We support babies, children and young people who have a confirmed life-limiting or life-threatening condition. Babies, children and young people can access Rainbows services if they:

  • have a degenerative condition that will lead to their death before or during early adulthood;
  • are currently palliative and/or are likely to die within 1 year or their medical team would not be surprised if they died within a year.;
  • have a current oncology diagnosis and are receiving active treatment and/or are palliative and/or are likely to die in the next 1 year;

The service is offered to babies, children and young people from birth – 25 years, living within the East Midlands. We are also able to support families antenatally.

Referrals can be made by a healthcare professional involved with baby, child or young person. If you require further information please contact the Hospice.

Healthcare professionals and families should be aware that all accepted referrals are reviewed bi-annually and that, during periods of stability, a baby, child or young person may be discharged, and can be re-referred if their health deteriorates in the future.

Emergency and urgent referrals for palliative or end-of-life care can be made at any time. We do everything we can to respond very quickly. Please complete a referral form and contact the hospice via phone and ask to speak to one of our palliative care team.

To speak to someone about referring a child or young person, call: 01509 638 000 or download the referral form and referral criteria form. Both of these must be completed and submitted via [email protected] 

To speak to someone about an antenatal referral, call: 01509 638 000 or download the antenatal referral form and referral criteria form. Both of these must be completed and submitted via [email protected]