Factors influencing where palliative care is provided

Palliative care can be provided to patients in any setting where health care is provided, including the patient’s home environment, hospital and palliative care units. Whenever possible, it should be provided in the place of the patient’s choice, and ideally patients should be able to move seamlessly from one location to another as requiredPollock, 2015. In practice, the place of care is determined by the nature of a patient’s illness, the suitability of their home, the support available from family and friends, and the resources of the healthcare system.

Patients living in rural and remote areas may have limited access to specialist palliative care services; however, families, communities and rural healthcare professionals are still often able to meet patients’ needs with limited resources. Many specialist palliative care services undertake outreach clinics in smaller communities, and may offer telehealth services to support clinicians in the care of individual patients, and for teaching. Patients from rural areas might wish to consult with specialist palliative care services when they visit larger centres for disease-centred treatment.