What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is the term used to describe the care that is given when cure is not possible and is a proactive approach involving a multi-disciplinary team.
As well as controlling pain and other distressing symptoms, it applies a holistic approach to meeting the physical, practical, functional, social, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and carers facing progressive illness and bereavement.
Although historically associated with the later stages of cancer, it is now established that palliative care should also be a routine part of care for those living with and dying from a wide variety of non-malignant conditions, such as dementia, heart failure, Huntington's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's disease, renal failure and respiratory failure among others.
Palliative care can be provided at any stage following diagnosis of a life-limiting illness or condition, and not solely in the last few days, weeks or months of life. General palliative care is care that is based on the understanding and practice of palliative care principles. These include:
- a focus on quality of life which includes good symptom control
- a whole person approach which takes into account the person's past life experience and current situation
- care which encompasses both the person with the life-threatening illness and those that matter to them
- respect for patient autonomy and choice with the emphasis on open and sensitive communication
For more information about Palliative Care in Scotland, please visit www.palliativecarescotland.org.uk
