The escalating demand and cost of health care has driven health reforms in many countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom. These reforms have included the development of services that allow patients with a range of illnesses to be managed safely in their own home rather than hospital. Such services have been well established for children with a number of chronic conditions and although managing children with acute illnesses at home is not a new strategy, this model of care is increasingly considered an alternative to traditional in-patient hospitalisation. In addition to the financial benefits of transferring care to the patients' homes for health care providers and families, children and parents report a strong preference for such models of care.