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Palliative care
Palliative care is the care and support of people with a serious progressive illness. It also includes care for their families. The aim of palliative care is to achieve the best quality of life for patients with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined palliative care as follows:
- provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
- affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
- intends neither to hasten or postpone death
- integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
- offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death
- offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient's illness and in their own bereavement
- uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including bereavement counselling
- enhances quality of life, and may also positively influence the course of illness
- is applicable early in the course of illness, in conjunction with other therapies that are intended to prolong life, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and includes those investigations needed to better understand and manage distressing clinical complications
Although palliative care is often provided by staff in hospitals, or carers working in people’s homes as part of their day to day duties, there are also Specialist Palliative Care Teams that can help. Some of the services that these teams provide include:
- Assessment, advice and care for patients and families in all care settings, including hospitals and care homes.
- Specialist in-patient facilities (in hospices or hospitals) for patients who benefit from the continuous support and care of specialist palliative care teams.
- Intensive coordinated home support for patients with complex needs who wish to stay at home. This may involve the specialist palliative care service providing specialist advice alongside the patient’s own doctor and district nurse to enable someone to stay in their own home. Many teams also now provide extended specialist palliative nursing; medical, social and emotional support and care in the patient’s home, often known as ‘hospice at home’.
- Day care facilities that offer a range of opportunities for assessment and review of patients’ needs and enable the provision of physical, psychological and social interventions within a context of social interaction, support and friendship. Many also offer creative and complementary therapies.
- Advice and support to all the people involved in a patient’s care.
- Bereavement support services which provide support for the people involved in a patient’s care following the patient’s death.
- Education and training in palliative care.
Hospices
Hospices care for the whole person, aiming to meet their physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. At home, in day care, and in the hospice, they care for the person who is facing the end of life and for those who love them. Nearly half of all people admitted to a hospice return home again. The average length of stay is just 13 days. All care is provided free of charge.
Hospices can provide a range of services: pain control, symptom relief, skilled nursing care, counselling, complementary therapies, spiritual care, art, music, physiotherapy, reminiscence, beauty treatments and bereavement support. Staff and volunteers work in multi-professional teams to provide care based on individual need and personal choice, striving to offer freedom from pain, dignity, peace and calm.
Marie Curie Hospice
Marie Curie Cancer Care aims to improve the quality of life for people living with life threatening illnesses, whilst supporting their families and carers. Whilst most of the patients have cancer-related conditions, their services are available to people with other conditions, for example motor neurone disease or multiple sclerosis. Referral to the hospice is usually arranged by the patient’s GP or hospital doctor and is based on medical, social or emotional need.
For further information about the range of services they provide, contact them using the details given below, or visit the Marie Curie Hospice website.
St Oswald’s Hospice
St Oswald's Hospice provides specialist care for local adults, young people and children. They are situated in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne and the purpose-built facilities offer a range of flexible services to North East families. Within the adult service, they offer a day hospice, lymphoedema service, an inpatient unit, complementary therapy service, consultant outpatient clinic and an outreach service.
Adults with life limiting conditions are referred for pain and symptom management and end of life care. They care for patients with cancer, as well as those with end stage neurological, cardiac and respiratory conditions.
For further information about the range of services they provide, contact them using the details given below, or visit the St Oswald’s Hospice website.
Other local help and advice
The Specialist Palliative Care Team at Newcastle Primary Care Trust consists of Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialists and consultants in palliative medicine, all of whom have extensive training in supportive care, the control of symptoms, and bereavement support. They can provide advice on pain management, support and advice to professional colleagues, an educational service to carers and professionals, and support for patients and carers. For further information and advice contact the team using the details given below, or visit the Newcastle Primary Care Trust website.
Other useful organisations
Help the Hospices is the leading charity supporting hospice care throughout the UK. If you are a patient, carer or have an interest in hospice and palliative care they provide information, support and opportunities to get involved. Help the Hospices want the very best care for everyone facing the end of life and are there to support members and other organisations as they strive to grow and improve end of life care throughout the UK and across the world. For further information, contact them using the details given below, or visit the Help the Hospices website.
Lifespan is a local charity which brings ease and support to people with serious and life-threatening illness, and to the family members and friends who care for them. Lifespan works not only with families affected by cancer but also with those touched by any life-threatening illness, such as motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. For further information, visit the Lifespan website, or contact them using the details given below.
National Council for Paliative Care (NCPC) is the umbrella charity for all those involved in palliative, end of life and hospice care in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We believe that everyone approaching the end of life has the right to the highest quality care and support, wherever they live, and whatever their condition. For further information visit the NCPC website, or contact them using the details below.
Other useful information
BBC guide Planning a good death
NHS booklet Planning for your future care
Information NOW section on Advance decisions (living wills)
Contact Information
Help the Hospices
Hospice House, 34-44 Britannia Street, London, WC1X 9JG.
Telephone : 020 7520 8200, Fax : 020 7278 1021.
Email : info@helpthehospices.org.uk
Lifespan
Minsteracres, Co Durham, DH8 9RT.
Telephone : 01434 673 777.
Email : info@lifespanteam.org.uk
Marie Curie Hospice
Marie Curie Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6SS.
Telephone : (0191) 219 1000.
National Council for Palliative Care
The Fitzpatrick Building, 188-194 York Way, London, N7 9AS.
Telephone : 020 7697 1520, Fax : 020 7697 1530.
Email : enquiries@ncpc.org.uk
Specialist Palliative Care Team
Arthur's Hill Clinic, Douglas Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BT.
Telephone : (0191) 226 1315, Fax : (0191) 219 5104.
St Oswald's Hospice
Regent Avenue, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1EE.
Telephone : (0191) 285 0063, Fax : (0191) 284 8004.
Email : enquiries@stoswaldsuk.org
Article last updated February 3, 2012 10:08 am
