Palliative care is the active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. It involves the prevention and relief of distressing symptoms by means of early identification and assessment, treatment of pain and other symptoms, and emotional and spiritual support.
Palliative care is about achieving the best quality of life for people and their families, with advanced, life limiting diseases such as cancer, heart or lung disease, kidney failure and other conditions like motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis. It can be provided for patients of any age group, from any stage of diagnosis covering a wide range of conditions and in any care setting. Patients with more complex needs require specialist palliative care delivered by a specialist multidisciplinary team.
There are many people involved in providing palliative care services and teamwork is important when addressing your needs. It is important to work along with you and your family to ensure that your needs are met. It is not always easy to ask for help as people often feel they should try to cope alone. It is important, however, that you and your family/carers have as much support as possible as coping alone can be difficult.
This section of the website provides information about our hospital and community palliative care services as well as additional support provided by the community and voluntary sector.
Palliative care for children and young people
Palliative care for children and young people is provided within a number of settings, both in hospital and the community. Some children and young people will receive palliative care on a neonatal, children’s ward or clinic. Others will receive care in their own homes from our Children’s Nursing Service.
For children and young people within the Trust requiring specialist palliative care, the Northern Ireland Hospice has a children’s service which provides support for them and their families.
Other children and young people requiring specialist palliative care may be treated within the Belfast Trust at The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. If this is the case, the primary care staff (GP and district nurse) and healthcare staff within the Northern Trust, will liaise closely with staff in Belfast to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to care, which means many people looking after you.
Palliative care user involvement forum
We are always keen to seek your views on the palliative care services provided within the Trust. Your experiences can help improve palliative care services for others and help inform future work.
You can become a member of the existing forums if you live within the Northern Trust area and are receiving services, are caring for a relative or friend who is ill or if you have been bereaved.
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