Palliative Care
Palliative care deals with patients who are in the terminal phase of their life. They have a life limiting condition for which active treatment is no longer the priority. Often symptom control and helping the patient achieve a peaceful, pain-free, symptom controlled death is the top of the agenda. The final hours of a patients life can be filled with anxiety, pain, breathlessness and loss of dignity.
Palliative medicine helps in this last phase of life.
The Royal college of physicians gives advice on a career in palliative medicine – Why Palliative care – RCP advice
Training
You will need to do basic training in medicine, anaesthetics, surgery or general practice. Specialist training is 5 years long and research or an additional interest will help you get a consultant job.
Training in palliative care JRCPTB Advice
Dealing with patients
a) Determining Priorities – Patients in the terminal phase of their illness (usually less than one year) can be anxious, confused, angry, withdrawn or have a variety of symptoms reflecting their inner turmoil. It takes skill to navigate through these to help clarify choices and priorities
b) Symptom control – Withdrawal of active medications, step based symptom control, involvement of specialist teams
c) Support for the patient when they most need it. You will be a person with authority to help make happen the patients wishes. IF the patient wishes to die at home, you can influence the many cogs in the NHS to make this happen, providing, oxygen at home, pain relief, carers to help with activities of daily living, finding emergency funding for special equipment (beds etc) are all a few examples.