Palliative care
Specialist palliative care teams provide advice and support for people who have a life-limiting illness. They also provide support for the person’s family and friends.
Some people are referred to a palliative care team early on in their illness. Others will only be referred as they approach the end of their life.
Your cancer doctor, specialist nurse or GP can refer you to a palliative care team if you need specialist support or care. Hospital palliative care teams can visit you if you are in hospital or attending a clinic appointment.
Community palliative care teams are often linked to a hospice. Members of the team can visit you at home or in a care home.
Palliative care teams can include:
- specialist palliative care nurses
- specialist palliative care doctors
- a social worker
- a counsellor
- an occupational therapist
- a physiotherapist
- a spiritual care coordinator or chaplain.
What do palliative care teams do?
Palliative care teams can give you advice on managing pain and other symptoms. They also provide emotional support and can advise you about practical problems. They can help you make an advance care plan and help coordinate your care.
Palliative care nurses are experts in assessing and treating any symptoms you may have. They can also provide emotional support to you and your carers. Palliative care nurses are sometimes called Macmillan nurses.
Palliative care doctors specialise in the management of symptoms in people who are approaching the end of their life. They work closely with palliative care nurses and may visit people at home, if needed.
Some community palliative care teams have nurses or healthcare assistants who can visit you at home and provide practical nursing and personal care. This might include washing you, dressing you and giving you drugs. A palliative care nurse can tell you more about the care provided by their team.
Palliative care nursing services are free. Your GP or your doctor or nurse at the hospital can refer you.
