Palliative care is the treatment of symptoms where cure is no longer considered an option, usually when the patient is dying. Some people may live for many years with an incurable disease, and lead a life of good quality with effective palliative care.
It focuses on controlling pain and other symptoms, improving quality of life for the patient and their family; and on meeting social, emotional and spiritual needs.
The National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) is the umbrella organisation for all those who are involved in providing, commissioning and using palliative care and hospice services in England, Wales & Northern Ireland. NCPC promotes the extension and improvement of palliative care services for all people with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions. NCPC promotes palliative care in health and social care settings across all sectors to government, national and local policy makers.
(National Council for Palliative Care)
This map deals with palliative care and end of life care processes. Map of Medicine Healthguides is a web-based visual representation of evidence-based patient care journeys covering 28 medical specialties and over 390 pathways.
(Carers Direct/NHS Choices, 2008)
