A child’s long-term condition will affect the entire family and it is vital that health services offer tailored, family-centred care, say Catherine Lane and Joanne Mason

Siblings of children with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses can face a number of challenges, yet this is a group that is often unacknowledged as needing specific support. It is essential that the needs of siblings are recognised and addressed as part of a family-centred approach. This article discusses the experiences and challenges faced by siblings in such families and what children’s nurses can do to help. In particular, it outlines a group intervention offered by a community children’s palliative care service.