Palliative care
‘Palliative care’ is care for a person of any age who has a life-limiting illness.
Palliative care involves supporting and helping the person to live as comfortably and fully as possible.
- A ‘life-limiting illness’ is one that cannot be cured and may at some time result in the person dying (whether that is years, months, weeks or days away).
- Palliative care involves providing assistance at all stages of the life-limiting illness.
Palliative care is provided in the community, in hospices and in hospitals.
- It can be provided by all healthcare professionals, including GPs and district nurses – supported where necessary by specialist palliative care services.
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Hospices are the main providers of specialist palliative care services for people living in the community.
Find out more from the Ministry
Palliative Care in New Zealand
A team has been established within the Ministry of Health to support the sector to deliver good palliative care and to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of palliative care services.
A palliative care work plan is part of the Cancer Control Programme. This programme focuses on an integrated national programme with activities across the sector, from the Ministry of Health to District Health Boards, Regional Networks and Non-governmental Organisations.
The Ministry of Health palliative care team is responsible for co-ordinating the palliative care work plan and leading national palliative care service development and improvement work.
Related websites
Hospice NZ
Hospice provides care and support for people with a life limiting illness. Find information about hospices, as well as fact sheets to support caregivers and to help people deal with bereavement.
Liverpool Care Pathway
The Liverpool Care Pathway for the dying patient (LCP) is an outline of care which a patient can expect in the final days and hours of life, which aims to help doctors and nurses provide end-of-life care. Here you can find information about LCP, and leaflets about end of life care.
NHS Choices
UK National Health Service website, with information on end-of-life care.
Advance Care Planning
Guidance on planning for the medical treatment and care you want in the future.
Kidshealth
Developed by the Starship Foundation and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand, with information on palliative care for children.
NALAG (NZ)
The National Association of Loss and Grief, New Zealand/NALAG (NZ) website has resources including listings for counselling services, book and article reviews, links and video.
Page last updated: 03 October 2012
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