What is palliative care?
Palliative care offers physical, emotional and practical support to people with a terminal illness. It can be offered at any point after a terminal diagnosis. On this page, we explain more about palliative care, including how to get it and where it's given.
The information on this page is written for people with a terminal illness, but may also be useful for people close to someone with a terminal diagnosis.
On this page:
What is palliative care?
If you are living with a terminal illness, you will usually have treatment and care which focuses on:
- managing any symptoms
- offering emotional, spiritual and psychological support
- offering practical support, including things such as planning for the future or getting equipment
- giving you a good quality of life.
This type of holistic care, which looks after every part of you, is called palliative care. Palliative care aims to make sure you feel supported and comfortable, rather than cure the illness.
Palliative care is sometimes called 'supportive care'.
On this page, we use the words terminal illness to talk about an illness that cannot be cured and that you are likely to die from. Some people prefer to use the words life-limiting illness or incurable illness. Please read this page using the language you feel most comfortable with.
Who can have palliative care?
After you get a terminal diagnosis, you can have palliative care at any stage in your illness. You can also have palliative care alongside treatments, therapies and medicines aimed at controlling your illness, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
However, palliative care does include caring for people who are nearing the end of life – this is sometimes called end of life care.
Palliative care may also be able to support the people close to you, including friends, family and carers. They may be able to speak with professionals who can offer practical and emotional support.
Is palliative care the same as end of life care?
No. Although it can include end of life care, palliative care is much broader and can last for longer. Having palliative care doesn't necessarily mean that you're likely to die soon – some people have palliative care for years.
End of life care offers treatment and support for people who are near the end of their life. It usually starts to be offered to those who are thought to be in the last year of their life. The aim is to help someone be as comfortable as possible in the time they have left, as well as making sure that practical things such as Wills or wishes are sorted out.
How do I get palliative care?
You may need a referral to access palliative care. That means a healthcare professional who is currently caring for you putting you in touch with a local palliative care service or professional. To get a referral, speak with:
- your GP
- your district nurse
- another healthcare professional.
If you are in a hospital, care home or nursing home, or hospice, the healthcare professionals there should be able to arrange palliative care for you.
Is palliative care free?
NHS healthcare is free for UK residents. Many parts of palliative care are offered through the NHS, such as support from your GP or other health and social care professionals.
Sometimes, you may have to, or choose to, pay for some types of support. This might include social care. How much you pay will depend on where you live and your financial situation.
Read about the cost of personal and nursing care at home.
Can family, friends and people close to me get palliative care?
Yes. Family, friends and carers can access emotional and practical palliative care. For example, they may be able to join group or individual counselling sessions, or speak with a social worker about adjustments needed in the home.
If you are receiving palliative care from a hospice or other local service, the people close to you may also be able to get support from them.
Even if you do not want palliative care, the people close to you can still get support. To find out what's available, they could speak to:
- their GP
- your GP
- another health or social care professional.
Read more about supporting someone with a terminal illness.
Where will I have palliative care?
You can have palliative care in different places, including:
- your home
- a hospital
- a care home or nursing home
- a hospice.
Your healthcare professional can tell you what palliative care services are available in your area, and where they are based.
Read about palliative care at hospices.
Who provides palliative care?
The professionals involved in your care will depend on what sort of care and support you need.
The care I receive at the moment is on several different levels...My oncologist looks after my medical care, and I have a nurse at the hospice who oversees the physiotherapy.
Common questions about palliative care
Palliative care is often misunderstood and some people believe things about it that aren't true. In this section, we aim to answer some common worries and questions about palliative care.
Does having palliative care mean I'll stop receiving other treatment for my illness?
No. You can have other treatments, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy, at the same time as palliative care.
Sometimes you may stop having other treatments. It can be difficult to cope with stopping treatment, especially if it's because the treatment isn't working. If this happens, it's important to let your healthcare team know how you're feeling. They can explain what palliative care you can have and how that may be able to help.
Does having palliative care mean I'm going to die soon?
You can receive palliative care at any point after a terminal diagnosis. Some people receive palliative care for years.
Your doctor or nurse may mention or suggest palliative care because they want to make sure you have all the support you need. That might include managing symptoms, getting emotional support for you or your loved ones, or looking after your general wellbeing.
If someone is thought to be in their last year of life, they may start to have end of life care instead.
If I have palliative care, will I still be able to see specialists who know about my particular illness or condition?
Yes. You do not have to stop seeing other health and social professionals who support you. You can have palliative care alongside care from the specialists who have been treating your particular illness.
Is palliative care just about treating pain and other physical symptoms?
No. As well as helping with pain and other physical symptoms, palliative care involves caring for all your physical, emotional, psychological, social and other needs. This is sometimes called a holistic approach.
More information and support about palliative care
We hope the information on this page has helped you to understand more about palliative care, including the differences between it and end of life care. If you have other questions about your care, it is best to speak with your doctor, nurse or healthcare team looking after you.
Read more information about palliative care in your area of the UK:
- England – NHS (includes information on end of life care)
- Scotland – NHS Inform
- Wales – NHS
- Northern Ireland – NI Direct (includes information on end of life care).
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About this information
This information is not intended to replace any advice from health or social care professionals. We suggest that you consult with a qualified professional about your individual circumstances. Read more about how our information is created and how it's used.
