Welcome to ROSY (Respite for Oxfordshire's Sick Youngsters.) We fund additional respite care at home for children with chronic, life-limiting or terminal illnesses in Oxfordshire.

While we think its best for children with terminal or complex illness to be cared for at home, around familiar things like siblings, family and pets, it places a huge burden of care on their families, who are left to care for a child with very complex medical needs, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Until ROSY was founded in 2002 there was very limited provision of respite nursing in the home, for parents with profoundly sick children. ROSY was set up by Craig Milner, his sister Bev Wilson, one of the two part time respite nurses who were struggling to cope with the respite nursing needs of Oxfordshire families, Debbie Spengler and Clair Stevens. Children were well looked after in hospital but parents were very much on their own once the child was discharged, despite requiring 24 hour care.

All our respite care is provided above and beyond the standard NHS provision.