Review of Access to Palliative Care Services

The Committee for Health is undertaking an inquiry into accessing palliative care services in Northern Ireland. As part of the inquiry Members of the Commitee for Health would like to gather the views of those patients and their families on their experience of accessing palliative care across Northern Ireland.

What is palliative care?

Palliative care is an approach aimed at improving the quality of life for patients, both adults and children, as well as their families who are dealing with life-threatening illnesses. It works to prevent and relieve suffering through the early identification, proper assessment, and treatment of pain and other issues, whether physical, emotional, psychosocial, or spiritual.

Palliative care goes beyond managing physical symptoms; it takes a holistic team-based approach to support both patients and their caregivers. This includes addressing practical concerns and offering bereavement counselling. It provides a support system to help patients live as fully and actively as possible until the end of life.

Palliative care is recognized as part of the human right to health and should be delivered through person-centred, integrated health services that respect the unique needs and preferences of each individual at the time(s) when such care and support is needed.

How can you take part in the inquiry?

As short survey is available to gather your views on accessing services in order to identify gaps. The Committee would like to hear from patients and their families on their experience of accessing palliative care. The Committee would also welcome comments from those stakeholder organisations that provide care to patients.

Below you will see two options, please click the relevant box to access the short survey.

Should you require further information please contact palliativecare.inquiry@niassembly.gov.uk

The closing date for completing the survey is Friday 10 January 2025.