Chair in Palliative Care for Children and Young People

Photo: Young boy

We are pleased to announce that Professor Myra Bluebond-Langner has been appointed the True Colours Chair in Palliative Care for Children and Young People. For more information on the appointment please click here.

In 2007 the Trust conducted a major strategic review of all its activities, primarily focusing on areas of specific need where a relatively small but entrepreneurial foundation could have a significant impact. We spoke to a wide range of parents, carers, professionals, statutory and voluntary sector providers, local and national government representatives. The children's palliative care sector in the UK is small and needs strong, determined leadership to help it to develop and become an integral part of services offered to children with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions.

In order for this to happen the sector needs to build a larger, well qualified workforce, a much deeper pool of research and evidence-based best practice and a voice within children's services at local and national level. The Trustees decided that the creation of the UK's first Professorial Chair in Children's Palliative Care would be a good place to start.

In early 2008 the Trustees asked Professor Sir Alan Craft to Chair a panel to select the best host institution for the Chair. Applicants needed to show how they would provide strategic leadership in the following key areas:

  • Developing the evidence base relating to children's palliative care and establishing and delivering a research programme which takes account of current research priorities, knowledge and skills.  This should include both epidemiological research and that which relates to improved clinical care and greater understanding of the needs of life-limited children, young people and their families
  • Development and delivery of education and training opportunities across the spectrum of disciplines and levels of expertise ensuring the development of leaders in the field
  • Raising the profile of children's palliative care within clinical establishments and through the development of an evidence base, within the policy and public affairs arena in the UK
  • Working with international partners to develop a stronger global voice for children's palliative care

In October 2008 the panel asked the Institute of Child Health, UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital to host the Chair and begin the process of selecting a candidate able to fill the very daunting brief set by the panel and the sector more widely.