Background Inequalities in access to hospice care is a source of considerable concern;
white, middle-class, middle-aged patients with cancer have traditionally been over …

Background: Deaths in the community are increasing. However, community palliative care
out-of-hours is variable. We lack detailed understanding of how care is provided out-of …

Background Specialist palliative care (SPC) providers tend to use the term 'complex'to refer
to the needs of patients who require SPC. However, little is known about complex needs on …

Background: Ongoing assessment of psychological reaction to illness in palliative and end
of life care settings is recommended, yet validated tools are not routinely used in clinical …

Background: Specialist palliative care services have various configurations of staff,
processes and interventions, which determine how care is delivered. Currently, there is no …

Objectives The heterogeneity of specialist palliative care services requires a classification to
enable a clear description and comparison. In Germany, specialist palliative care is provided …

Background: Community services for palliative patients outside normal working hours are
variable and the best evidence-based models of care have not been determined. Aim: To …

Background: Community-based palliative out-of-hours services operate outside normal
working hours. However, little is known about the provision and delivery of such care. Aim …

Executive summary Purpose: Palliative care policy in Ireland is currently under review, and
out-of-hours, often referred to as “after-hours” care is a recognised gap in provision. The …

Background Community-based out-of-hours services are an integral component of end-of-
life care. However, there is little understanding of how patients and families utilise these …