The Association for Children's Palliative Care says too often parents and professionals shy away from talking to seriously ill children about sex. To tackle this it has produced guidance called Let's Talk About Sex: Let's Talk About You and Me.
The guidance outlines the support available from groups such as Contact a Family and calls for better training for all children's professionals in communicating with young people. It says better partnership working is important to achieve this with specific link-ups between professionals in sexual health, palliative care, social care and education.
The document also calls for all children's professionals to see support on sexual issues as a right for all young people with life-threatening conditions.
The association's policy head Katrina McNamara-Goodger, who co-authored the report, said: "Talking about sex with young people is something professionals and parents have enough difficulty with. But communication is even more difficult when there are questions such as: will a child reach adulthood? It is important we start a debate so parents and professionals can talk more openly about these issues with young people."
She said considerable work has already taken place to promote sexual issues among young disabled people but specific advice for children with life-threatening illnesses is lacking.
"The need is much greater now as medical advances mean children with life-threatening conditions are living much longer into adulthood and need support with sexual issues," she added.
Children's professionals are being urged to make the first move and actively discuss sexual issues with parents and children. Other advice includes making sure sex and relationship education in schools is accessible to all young people, including those with special needs. The importance of establishing trust with young people to talk effectively about sex is another focus.
A spokeswoman for sexual health charity fpa, which is mentioned in the guide as a useful source of advice, said: "It is important that all barriers to talking about sexual issues are broken down."
- www.cypnow.co.uk/doc.
