Palliative and end of life care
Your directory to local services and support for palliative and end of life care.
Welcome to the palliative and end of life care hub for people Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Royston. The hub in split into three areas below and you can click on the one that most suits the support you are looking for.
For healthcare professionals, please visit this page or scan the QR code to the right.
What is palliative care?
What is palliative care?
If you are living with a terminal illness, you will usually have treatment and care which focuses on:
- managing any symptoms
- offering emotional, spiritual and psychological support
- offering practical support, including things such as planning for the future or getting equipment
- giving you a good quality of life.
This type of holistic care, which looks after every part of you, is called palliative care. Palliative care aims to make sure you feel supported and comfortable, rather than cure the illness.
Is palliative care the same as end of life care?
No. Although it can include end of life care, palliative care is much broader and can last for longer. Having palliative care doesn't necessarily mean that you're likely to die soon – some people have palliative care for years.
End of life care offers treatment and support for people who are near the end of their life. It usually starts to be offered to those who are thought to be in the last year of their life. The aim is to help someone be as comfortable as possible in the time they have left.
Thinking Ahead: What is ReSPECT?
What is the ReSPECT process?
The ReSPECT process creates personalised recommendations for a person’s clinical care and treatment in a future emergency in which they are unable to make or express choices.
These recommendations are created through conversations between a person, their families, and their health and care professionals to understand what matters to them and what is realistic in terms of their care and treatment.
Who is ReSPECT for?
The ReSPECT process can be for anyone but will have increasing relevance for people who have complex health needs, people who are likely to be nearing the end of their lives, and people who are at risk of sudden deterioration or cardiac arrest. Some people will want to record their care and treatment preferences for other reasons.
More information
If you would like to find out more on palliative and end of life care, or share your website feedback, please email cpicb.contact@nhs.net.