Specialist Palliative Care

Palliative care (also known as end of life care) is a term used by Health Care Professional's when they provide help to patients with serious progressive illnesses such as cancer and heart disease and to their families and carers. It encompasses management of pain and other symptoms as well as provision of psychological, social and spiritual support to achieve the best possible quality of life for patients and their families.

When the disease is advanced and the patient has complex needs, the support provided by the usual health and social care teams may be supplemented by other health and social care professionals who specialise in palliative care. Specialist palliative care teams such as those available at DH, may include palliative medicine consultants, palliative care nurse specialists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, pharmacists, social workers and those able to give spiritual and psychological support.

Contacts

National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC)

The Fitzpatrick Building

188-194 York Way

London N7 9AS

020 7697 1520

email: enquiries@ncpc.org.uk

NCPC home

Review date: November 2012

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