Demelza Hospice Care for Children

Demelza Hospice Care for Children is a residential hospice in Keycol, Kent. It provides a wide range of services to children with terminal illnesses or conditions.

Demelza House was set up by Derek and Jennifer Phillips after the death of their daughter in 1990. Demelza, who died of a brain tumor, worked at a children's hospice in Birmingham. After visiting that facility, the couple wanted to give to their own community by establishing such a hospice to bring cheerfulness, affection and understanding to terminally ill children. Demelza's House was formed in December 1994. Through contributions from their community as well as further afield, they were able to open the doors in 1998.

Care is provided one-to-one with a team of nurses and care assistants. They offer residential breaks and day care and Hospice at Home Care. They accept any child with a life-limiting condition at any stage of illness or health, providing they fulfill the criteria.

Demelza House is now referred to as Demelza Kent and has been joined by Demelza Community and Demelza South East London. All three services are now collectively known as Demelza Hospice Care for Children.

Demelza Kent

Demelza Kent is a 10-bedded hospice providing a large range of hospice and care services to children, young people and their families.

Life-limited or life threatened children or young people and their families benefit from a wide range of facilities that include a Multi-Sensory room, Soft Play, Jacuzzi, and The Inclusion Zone (TIZ) for young people.

The Care Team is led by Children's Palliative Care Nurses and consists of Children's Palliative Care Assistants, Family Support Workers and other Ancillary Support Staff.

One of their aims is to make the most of every moment that the child or young person spends at Demelza. Parents have described having the opportunity of an undisturbed night's sleep as pure luxury.

At the end of the child or young person's illness, Demelza offer a comprehensive service of support using a Bereavement Suite - known as the Hop Garden.

Demelza SEL

Demelza South East London is a 6-bedded hospice providing a large range of hospice and care services to children, young people and their families.

Life-limited or life threatened children or young people and their families benefit from a wide range of facilities that include the use of multi-sensory and soft play equipment.

At the end of the child or young person's illness, they offer a comprehensive service of support using a bereavement suite - known as the Butterfly Suite.

Demelza Community

The service complements the care offered at Demelza Kent and Demelza South East London, with the Community Palliative Care Team going directly into the family home to provide care, respite, an on-call service and crisis intervention.

Demelza Community provides care and support based on the individual needs of the family. This is achieved through an holistic assessment and development of a care plan in collaboration with the family and other healthcare professionals. The care plan will reflect the changing needs of the child/young person and will embrace the needs of the family as a whole.

Care is provided using a variety of skills and services and is co-ordinated by a named nurse within the Demelza Community Team. The team works in partnership with families to help support and maintain family life

When a child reaches the end of their life the Demelza Community Team can offer 24-hour end of life care at home followed by bereavement support to members of the family, as required.