Palliative Care Definitions
Understanding palliative care
Palliative care is about improving quality of life for people with life‑limiting illnesses and those close to them. It focuses on relieving pain and managing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, while offering compassionate support to families and carers.
What is palliative and end-of-life care?
Death and dying are a natural part of life. What matters most is being able to live as well as possible until the end, with care that reflects personal priorities, preferences, and wishes.
Palliative care is an approach defined by the World Health Organisation as improving the quality of life for people of all ages with life‑limiting illnesses, and for their families. It focuses on preventing and relieving suffering through early identification, careful assessment, and treatment of pain and other physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
In England, end-of-life care refers specifically to the last year of life. It is personalised care designed to support people in their final months and days, ensuring comfort, dignity, and compassion, while also supporting families, carers, and communities.
Together, palliative and end-of-life care help people live well until they die, offering tailored support that makes a meaningful difference to patients and those close to them.
General Palliative Care
General palliative care is the day‑to‑day support provided in homes and hospitals. It includes assessing and meeting patient and carer needs under ordinary circumstances, and seeking advice from or referring to specialist services when situations become more complex.
Specialist palliative care
Specialist palliative care is delivered by expert teams – including consultant physicians, nurse specialists, and other clinicians. Care may be provided through the hospice, day centres, hospitals, community teams, or via telephone advice. These services work closely together to meet the often complex needs of patients, families, and carers.
Referrals
To find out how to refer to Wigan & Leigh Hospice, please visit our make a referral page.