Palliative medicine is the active holistic care of patients with life limiting illness. Palliative Medicine consultants work as part of a multidisciplinary team to aid with symptom control, psychological, social and spiritual care as well as family support and bereavement care.
The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best possible quality of life for patients and their families. Often this involves working closely alongside other health care professionals particularly other specialty consultants, clinical nurse specialists, GPs and district nurses. Palliative Medicine is delivered across a variety of settings including home, hospice, hospital, care homes and outpatient clinics.