What is Palliative and End of life Care?

The Macmillan Tayside PEOLC Network utilises the following definitions of palliative care and end of life care:

Palliative care: an approach that “improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and treatment of pain and other problems; physical, psychosocial and spiritual” (World Health Organisation).

End of life care: palliative care provided in the last hours, days and weeks of a person's life.

Childrens and young peoples’ palliative care: palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions is an active and total approach to care, from the point of diagnosis or recognition, throughout the child's life, death and beyond. It embraces physical, emotional, social and spiritual elements and focuses on the enhancement of quality of life for the child or young person and support for the family. It includes the management of distressing symptoms, provision of short breaks and care through death and bereavement. (Scottish Children and Young People's Palliative Care Executive Group, 2012)