Commonly asked questions

Isn't palliative care provided when everyone else has given up?

Palliative care is the active care of people with advanced progressive conditions. Although it does not halt or reverse the progression of underlying disease, it does improve symptoms and quality of life. Palliative care can be delivered alongside other care.

Is palliative and end-of-life care only for patients with cancer?

Palliative care is an approach to care for people with any advanced progressive illness, including advanced heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD), motor neuron disease or advanced dementia

Does palliative care treat physical symptoms such as sickness?

Palliative care considers each person holistically, recognising not only the physical problems, but also the considers the emotional, psychological, spiritual , social and financial concerns which people with advanced progressive illnesses and their families and carers may be experiencing.

Does palliative and end-of-life care only focus on the needs of the patient?

To achieve the best quality of life for patients, it is also necessary to support their carers and close family through effective communication and the assessment of their needs 

It palliative care only practiced in hospices?

Palliative care is provided by our usual health care team, at home, in hospital our in our care home. Specialists such as Clinical Nurse Specialists in palliative care or Consultants in palliative  medicine work in hospitals, community and hospices.

What is End of Life Care?

End of life care is an integral part of palliative care, and helps all those with advanced, progressive and incurable conditions to live as well as possible until they die. There is considerable overlap between these terms and concepts. End of Life care is often recognised as the period of time during which an individual's condition deteriorates to the point where death is either probable within the next twelve months, or would not be an unexpected event. However this will depend on the disease itself and how rapidly progressive it is for that particular patient.

A specific component of both end of life care and palliative care is the last few days or weeks of life. Some people refer to this as the  'dying phase' - others use the term 'terminal care'. 

Comparing Palliative and End of life Care