Palliative care principles

Understanding Palliative Care

Palliative care is specialised medical care for individuals living with serious illnesses, focused on improving their quality of life.
Palliative care is appropriate at any age and at any point in a serious illness, and can be provided alongside curative treatment.
The key goal is to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.
Palliative care teams include doctors, nurses, and other specialists who work together with other healthcare providers to provide an extra layer of support.

Person-centred care - Focus on the unique needs and wishes of the individual patient. Respect their autonomy and decisions regarding their care.
Holistic approach - Palliative care considers the whole person, not just the disease. This includes the emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of their life.
Symptom management - Actively manage symptoms to maintain the best possible comfort and quality of life. This also includes psychological and spiritual issues.
Communication and shared decision-making - Maintain ongoing, open, and honest communication with the patient and their family. Include them in decisions about their care.
Interdisciplinary team approach - Recognise that palliative care involves a broad team of healthcare professionals who work together to provide comprehensive, coordinated care.
Family support - Consider the needs of the family, providing support to them as part of the care of the patient. This extends to bereavement care after the patient’s death.
Care coordination - Manage care across various settings and providers to ensure smooth, continuous care.

Palliative care is established earlier in the course of illness while end of life care is intended for the final weeks or months of life.
Both palliative care and end of life care aim to improve quality of life and ensure a person’s wishes are considered and respected.
Every individual should have a care plan in place, which focuses on their preferences and includes details like where they would like to die and any special requests.
The end of life care pathway helps guide professionals in providing consistent, high-quality care in line with the individual’s wishes.

Understand the importance of consent in end of life care. Patients have the right to refuse treatment if they have the mental capacity to make such decisions.
Awareness of the Mental Capacity Act and how it relates to decisions about care.
Understand the role of Advance Care Planning (ACP) and Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) orders.
Recognition of appropriate procedures for reporting and managing pain, discomfort, and other symptoms.
Understand the ethical issues associated with end of life care, including patient choice, dignity, privacy, and autonomy.