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Service providers face difficult decisions about how best to develop services for the increasing numbers of young people with life-limiting conditions who require palliative care.

To explore alternative short break and emergency respite care options to children's hospice care.

A two-phase evaluation with young people, families and professionals. Phase 1: qualitative semi-structured interviews and focus groups (n=53). Phase 2: mixed-method survey (n=82), qualitative findings only.

There were few, or no, appropriate short break and emergency respite care alternatives when children's hospice care was not available that can meet the need of young people with life-limiting conditions, creating anxiety for children's hospice users and those leaving the service as a result of reaching transition age or through no longer meeting the children's hospice eligibility criteria …