Palliative Care

General introduction

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients (adults and children) and their families who are facing problems associated with life-limiting illness. 

A life-limiting illness is one that cannot be cured. It can include but is not limited to:

• cancer
• heart and lung disease
• motor neurons disease and multiple sclerosis
• Alzheimer's disease and dementia
• renal and kidney disease
• stroke and other neurological conditions
• frailty and other life-limiting illnesses

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 are likely to die soon some people have palliative care for years. 

The hospital Specialist Palliative Care Team offer a range of services and aim to:

• give advice about managing pain and other physical symptoms
• support you while you are facing serious illness
• offer practical suggestions to help you do the things that are important to you
• offer support to those close to you
• introduce you to other services that might be helpful to you, such as hospices, support groups, palliative care community teams and welfare benefits advice

You may see our team as an inpatient or as an outpatient. 

We work closely with the community teams in Halton and Warrington, as well as other local hospitals and hospices, to coordinate care for patients.