Onkológia 6/2014

Palliative care

Palliative care had its origins in the 1960s and 1970s in the UK with the emergence of the hospice movement and its inclusion in the European health care systems is inevitable. Palliative medicine provides treatment of pain and other somatic symptoms, caters to psychological, spiritual and social needs of terminally ill patients during the last days of their lives. Its goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patients and their families and relatives. Inclusion of palliative care into medical specialties is logical and cooperation between the individual specialties is much needed. Facilities offering palliative care must follow the organization scheme of the health care system in Slovakia (acute inpatient wards, outpatient palliative facilities, stationary hospices, mobile palliative/hospice teams, consiliary service in hospitals and policlinics).

Keywords: palliative medicine, palliative care.