Primary palliative care needs urgent attention

Palliative care is actually already being provided in primary care as part of the holistic care provision given to patients on their evolving health journey. It is misleading to suggest that palliative care is anything different from holistic care. In order to improve the quality of holistic care in primary care, GPs and allied health professionals need to have adequate time to spend with patients to effectively listen to and address their needs. Time for communication between team members and with secondary care when necessary. The ability to access motivated local carers in the community is also vital.

It is surely a matter of enabling a patient centred focus of the primary care team that most needs attention. This will allow holistic care to continue and be provided with compassion and dignity throughout. Attention to allowing this type of care is necessary to improve end of life care rather than suggesting that increased specialist palliative care is a requirement.