Hospital Palliative Care

Hospitals are where the most seriously ill people in our society receive healthcare. Patients go to hospital in order to benefit from lifesaving and life-prolonging treatments, but inevitably many will deteriorate and die there. End-of-life care is a core business for hospitals; a reality that is being increasingly recognized. Hospitals are also facing the challenge of how best to meet the needs of a population that is becoming increasingly old, frail, and co-morbid. When cared for in an acute care facility, patients with advanced progressive disease can benefit from a palliative approach. When their needs are complex, they deserve reliable and timely access to specialist expertise to supplement the care provided by their primary providers. This chapter will look at the provision of palliative care in the hospital setting, from the perspective of a dedicated team working in a provincial city in New Zealand. It will explore how this service has developed and how the team operates and thrives within its unique healthcare setting. A broad range of challenges and opportunities are discussed as well as issues such as team sustainability, digital health, and education provision. The ultimate aim across all health systems is to create a culture of universal access to quality holistic end-of-life care and strong connections between all providers.