PHA supports World Hospice and Palliative Care Day

Saturday 8 October 2011 marks World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. The Public Health Agency (PHA) would like to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world by raising awareness and understanding of the needs – medical, social, practical and spiritual – of people living with a life-limiting illness, and their families.

This year’s World Hospice and Palliative Care Day theme is ‘Many diseases, many lives, many voices – palliative care for non-communicable conditions’. 

The theme will focus on how people living with conditions that are not infectious can benefit from palliative care. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory conditions and diabetes, make up 60% of deaths worldwide. The majority of these deaths occur in low and middle income countries, where palliative care is often not available.

To get involved in World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, log on to www.worldday.org/get-involved/  which gives you ideas and suggestions on what you can do on the day to support people living with life-limiting illnesses, and their families.

Mary Hinds, Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, PHA, and Chair of the Implementation Process for End of Life Care in Northern Ireland, said: “Good quality palliative and end of life care will be important for us all. ‘Living Matters, Dying Matters’ is a five year strategy for palliative and end of life care in Northern Ireland, established to ensure that any person living with a life-threatening illness lives well and dies well, irrespective of their condition or care setting.

“It has been encouraging to see the plans being taken forward by the Health and Social Care Trusts in partnership with local hospices and other providers, and involving local people.

“We aim to ensure that people receiving palliative care, their families and carers, are provided with high quality care across all settings and conditions, and are supported to enjoy a good quality of life, maximising their potential through the course of their illness.

“There is still some progress to be made within the context of the review of health and social services. We are looking for statutory and voluntary services to work together to make a significant difference in improving access to high quality services for those with life-limiting conditions, and to develop innovative approaches to care.”