How to refer
Inclusion Criteria
The team treat children and young people who have a life limiting and life threatening conditions from the antenatal period up until their 18th birthday. The team also provide support for their families.
Children and young people referred to the team must have a registered GP in Camden, Haringey, or Islington.
Referrals to the Life Force Team can be completed by any health or social care professional. The team will also consider self-referrals and referrals from parents or carers.
Referral Categories
Referrals fall into one of the below Together for Short Lives categories:
Category 1
Life-threatening conditions for which curative treatment may be feasible but can fail. Access to palliative care services may be necessary when treatment fails or during an acute crisis, irrespective of the duration of threat to life. On reaching long-term remission or following successful curative treatment there is no longer a need for palliative care services.
Examples: cancer, irreversible organ failures of the heart, liver, kidney.
Category 2
Conditions where premature death is inevitable. There may be long periods of intensive treatment aimed at prolonging life and allowing participation in normal activities.
Example: Cystic fibrosis
Category 3
Progressive conditions without curative treatment options. Treatment is exclusively palliative and may commonly extend over many years.
Examples: Batten Disease, muscular dystrophy
Category 4
Irreversible but non-progressive conditions causing severe disability leading to susceptibility to health. Children can have complex health care needs, a high risk of an unpredictable life-threatening event or episode, health complications and an increased likelihood of premature death.
Examples: severe cerebral palsy, multiple disabilities following brain or spinal cord injury
Short Term Respite Referrals
The team accepts referrals for short term respite support of six weeks for children being discharged home from NICU or hospital ward with a nursing need. This is to assist and support with transition for the hospital environment to the home. This service is offered depending on capacity.
Last updated09 Jul 2021