Advance in the cantonal council of Zurich – in Zurich there should be a hospice for terminally ill children – news

In order to temporarily relieve parents of terminally ill children, the cantonal parliament wants to open a children’s hospice.

For children who are terminally ill and need palliative care, there is currently no hospice in Switzerland. The parents are largely responsible for the care and support of these children. Now the Zurich cantonal council wants to relieve affected parents – with a children’s hospice.

It’s also a huge burden for the family

In such a children’s hospice, terminally ill children are to be temporarily housed and cared for – for a day or even a week. This should give the parents time to recharge their batteries and relieve them, because it is an enormous burden for them too.

However, there should be no cantonal children’s hospice, as demanded by an individual civil initiative. Rather, the cantonal council wants the canton to support corresponding projects financially.

As a result, in the opinion of the cantonal council, it would also be possible for the canton to work with other cantons or private individuals.

It is therefore also conceivable that the “Flamingo” children’s hospice, which is planned in Zurich’s Fällanden and is scheduled to open at the end of 2024, will become part of the plans. This hospice was set up by a foundation and is expected to have space for eight terminally ill children.

It shouldn’t be a hospice

For the majority of the Council it is clear that there should be no hospice for the dead. When children die, they should be able to do so at home in familiar surroundings. “But it shouldn’t be a place where death is taboo,” said Esther Straub (SP).

Health director and government councilor Natalie Rickli (SVP) wants to relieve parents in particular. “They should be able to hand over the care of their children to a greater extent.”

Legend:

The majority of the Zurich cantonal council wants a temporary children’s hospice, not a death hospice.

Keystone/Michael Buholzer

Nicole Wyss from the AL sees the planned children’s hospice in the canton of Zurich as one of several in Switzerland. “There is no need for countless such offers throughout Switzerland. But it takes two, three, maybe four.”

In contrast to Great Britain or Austria, there is still no children’s hospice for terminally ill children in Switzerland. However, a first one is to be opened in Bern next winter. The “Allani”, initiated by a private foundation, has been under construction since last November – there are plans for space for up to eight children.