Reprimand Highlights Critical Shortage of Pediatric Palliative Care in Spain

Bilbao's Pediatric Palliative Care Crisis: A Reprimand Highlights Urgent Need for Resources A recent incident in Bilbao, Spain, has brought to light the severe shortage of resources in pediatric palliative care. A team of pediatricians from the Hospital de Cruces was reprimanded for using their hospital car outside of working hours to provide care to a 4-year-old girl at her home. The parents of the child, Ayuri, who passed away just a week before, spoke of the vital support provided by the team. "The situation with Ayuri was unstable, the pain would come on very strongly, or there would be respiratory problems," explained the father. The team's actions, while technically against regulations, highlight the lack of adequate 24/7 care available for children with palliative needs. The pediatricians involved confirmed that the hospital only warned them about the risk of using company vehicles outside of working hours. However, they emphasized that there was no alternative means to provide the necessary urgent care. "We managed to ensure that she did not suffer, that she could be in her surroundings, with people who knew her and loved her," said the mother. This case has sparked outrage and calls for reform. According to the Specialized Medical Societies, only three regions in Spain have pediatric palliative care teams available around the clock. The Basque Health Service has responded by announcing plans to expand palliative care hours. This is a positive step, but more needs to be done to address the systemic lack of resources for the estimated 60,000 children in Spain who require palliative care, many with neurological diseases or cancer.