ABSTRACT
This chapter provides assistance for those purchasing palliative care services. The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best possible quality of life for patients and their families. General palliative care approaches and attitudes such as good pain control and holistic care are needed by all health care professionals caring for people with advanced disease, particularly when curative measures are unhelpful or inappropriate. The chapter presents purchasing authorities in developing their needs assessments and setting service specifications for palliative care. Terminal illness refers to active and progressive disease for which curative treatment is neither possible nor appropriate and from which death is certain. In 1980 a working group on terminal care advised that efforts should concentrate on educating and training hospital and community staff and supporting them in their work. The chapter provides assistance in the needs assessment for palliative and terminal care and follows the format proposed by Stevens and Raftery.
