Since September 1, 2019, the CCT has supported over 300 children and their families. Pediatric oncologist and palliative care specialist Erna Michiels explains: ‘We have gained a lot of experience over the past few years. Our goal is to ensure that children do not experience pain and to support their families as much as possible, so they don’t have to go through this difficult time alone.’ The CCT works closely with general practitioners and home care providers to deliver the best possible care.
Collaboration among various specialists
Pediatric nurse Heidy Hollander-Peggeman has been involved with the CCT since its inception. ‘We work in a large team with specialists from different fields. We discuss cases together to provide the best care, fully tailored to the needs of the child and family. This personalized approach is incredibly valuable, especially when a child cannot recover.’
Anesthesiologist and pain specialist Arjanne van Norel also emphasizes the importance of palliative care: ‘Not all children can be cured. Unfortunately, this is the case for about a quarter of children. That’s why it’s so important to have proper palliative care. Over the past few years, we’ve made many improvements. For example, we are now available 24/7 for home care providers, and we’ve gained more expertise in managing symptoms during the palliative phase and dealing with complex end-of-life issues.’
In the Children's Comfort Team Utrecht, nurses, doctors, psychologists, child life specialists, and social workers work together. You can read more information on this page.