New Inquiry – Palliative Care

Palliative care seeks to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing potentially terminal illness. It seeks to prevent, assess and treat pain and other physical, psychological and spiritual issues. Many readers will be aware of the problems that it poses.

The Parliamentary Health Committee have decided to undertake an inquiry into palliative care (but expressly not extending to issues relating to euthanasia). Separately, the House of Lords have agreed to establish a Committee to consider the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill.

As far as palliative care is concerned, the Committee will inquire into "the provision of hospice and palliative care by the NHS and by independent services, including the related support services of local authorities and other agencies for both adults and children". The inquiry will look at the extent to which the needs and desires of patients of differing ages are considered including