ACT - The Association for Children's Palliative Care

The 2007 edition of a children’s palliative care symptom control manual has been launched and is now ready to download at the ACT website, free of charge. The manual, Basic Symptom Control in Paediatric Palliative Care: the Rainbows Children’s Hospice Guidelines, now in its seventh year, and used by doctors and nurses throughout the world, is the only resource which provides comprehensive guidelines for treating a wide range of symptoms experienced by children with life-limiting or complex health conditions.

As well as being an “industry bible” for professionals, the manual has also been prepared for the use of parents who are caring for a terminally ill child. Basic Symptom Control in Paediatric Palliative Care: the Rainbows Children’s Hospice Guidelines, has been written by Dr Satbir Singh Jassal, GP and Medical Director at Rainbows Children’s Hospice, and is a collaboration from 27 leading paediatric and palliative care contributors from around the world.

The manual has been written to allow doctors (both GPs and Paediatricians), nursing staff in specialised units and in the community and parents, an understanding of the basis of symptom control in paediatric palliative care. It’s been designed to provide more practical support and hands on clinical information in the acute setting. 

Packed with information about how to appropriately treat a range of symptoms including: infections, mouthcare, nausea and vomiting, seizures, muscle spasm and pain management, the manual also provides detailed information on the quantities, calculation and frequency of administering drugs and treatment for babies and children.  Additionally it includes a detailed section on neonatal palliative care and there’s key information on caring for children who have a gastronomy or trachesotomy, or who need home ventilation.
The 7th Edition of the Basic Symptom Control in Paediatric Palliative Care manual includes new chapters on neonatology, paediatric palliative care emergencies, fluid and electrolyte balance and where to get additional help. It’s provided free of charge as all the contributors work to improve paediatric palliative care around the world. The authors encourage parents and practitioners to download as many copies as necessary, and welcome feedback and requests for new chapters on particular themes.  For feedback or more information about the manual contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Download your free copy of Basic Symptom Control in Paediatric Palliative Care: the Rainbows Children’s Hospice Guidelines here:

PDF version

WORD version