ABSTRACT
Working as a Macmillan nurse, it is second nature to me to use the words ‘palliative care’ when describing the type of nursing that I do. However, whereas people tend to understand the type of nursing that goes on in areas such as Accident and Emergency, intensive care, coronary care, etc., the meaning of palliative care still seems to be shrouded in mystery. Despite the fact that palliative care is now a recognised medical specialty, very few people actually understand what the term really means, and very few like to ask. People tend to either nod and look sad, or say things like ‘It must be really hard looking after dying people all the time.’ Many people think that palliative care is only given to patients with cancer, and that it can only be given in a hospice. Most think that it is only for people who are dying, or given when the doctors ‘can do no more.’ There are many medical programmes on television that show the general public what goes on in a wide range of different nursing areas, such as Accident and Emergency, children’s wards, maternity units, etc. However, very few programmes on palliative care are shown, and when such a programme is broadcast, it is usually accompanied by a warning saying that people may fi nd viewing it upsetting. This reinforces people’s opinion that palliative care is all about death and dying, when in actual fact it is more often about living with a life-limiting illness.
