What kind of condition would a child have to have to be referred to The Shooting Star Children's Hospice?
All the children we care for have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, as defined by ACT (Association of Children's Palliative Care).

How many nights does a family get allocated?
Each family is allocated 15 nights a year for short breaks. If there is an emergency or a child requires end of life care, this does not count towards the 15 nights' allocation. When a child is receiving further care at another children's hospice, we communicate with the other hospice to ensure the overall allocation does not exceed 15 days. This results in a fair allocation for all children in need. Occasionally, if another family has to cancel a short break booking for whatever reason, we can offer 'bonus' nights which are not deducted from the allocation. Day visits are offered in addition to your 15 nights allocation, subject to availability.

What if I only want to use one part of your service?
Once your child has been accepted for service, you will be able to access any or all of our services - the choice is yours. We are happy to work with you to develop an individual service which works best for you and your family. Of course, this will remain flexible if your needs change.

How much will I be expected to pay?
All services and facilities are provided free of charge to families.

Am I expected to stay with my child?
After an initial overnight stay accompanied by a parent/carer, your child can visit Shooting Star House unaccompanied should you wish.  Alternatively, you can come as a family and enjoy the time together, or a combination of accompanied and unaccompanied visits.

Can I sleep in the same room as my child?
Each of the children's rooms has a sofa-bed which can be used by parents if they want to sleep in the room with your child. We have six bedrooms with en-suite facilities upstairs for family members. The child who is unwell must remain downstairs in order for nursing staff to provide 24-hour care during the child's stay.

What if we don?t want to stay overnight?
Day visits are offered in addition to your 15 nights short break allocation, subject to availability.

Can you cater for special dietary requirements?
Our catering staff are experienced in meeting various dietary requirements and will endeavour to ensure your needs are catered for. When your child has been accepted to receive a care service, we will contact you to discuss your specific requirements.