Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care: What is Palliative Care ?

Palliative Care

In this section of the site you will find an explanation of what is meant by palliative care and information about palliative care services available in Scotland.

What is palliative care?

When we are faced with a serious illness we hope that an operation or other treatment will cure it completely. Sometimes, in serious disease like many cancers, a cure is not possible.

Palliative care aims to maintain and as far as possible, improve quality of life for patients and their families.

Palliative care is about:

controlling pain and other distressing symptoms
helping patients and families cope with the emotional upset and practical problems of the situation
helping people to deal with spiritual questions which may arise from their illness
supporting families and friends in their bereavement

A fuller definition of palliative care by the World Health Organization (WHO) can be seen here

Who needs palliative care?

Everyone suffering from an incurable progressive illness should receive palliative care. Palliative care has been developed mainly for people with cancer but it can also help those with, for example, advanced heart failure, AIDS or motor neurone disease. People of all ages can benefit from palliative care. it can help at all stages of the illness from diagnosis onwards, while treatment is in progress and at the end of life.

Palliative Care In this section of the site you will find an explanation of what is meant by palliative care and information about palliative care services available in Scotland. What is palliative care? When we are faced with a serious illness we hope that an operation or other treatment will cure it completely. Sometimes, in serious disease like many cancers, a cure is not possible. Palliative care aims to maintain and as far as possible, improve quality of life for patients and their families. Palliative care is about: controlling pain and other distressing symptoms helping patients and families cope with the emotional upset and practical problems of the situation helping people to deal with spiritual questions which may arise from their illness supporting families and friends in their bereavement A fuller definition of palliative care by the World Health Organization (WHO) can be seen here Who needs palliative care? Everyone suffering from an incurable progressive illness should receive palliative care. Palliative care has been developed mainly for people with cancer but it can also help those with, for example, advanced heart failure, AIDS or motor neurone disease. People of all ages can benefit from palliative care. it can help at all stages of the illness from diagnosis onwards, while treatment is in progress and at the end of life.

Services
Palliative Care \| About the SPPC \| Education & Events \| Publications \| Newsroom \| links Home \| Contact \| Site map \| Disclaimer