ABSTRACT
Although the Macmillan service is historically linked with cancer, Macmillan nurses now help patients who are suffering from a wide range of other lifelimiting diseases.
They provide specialist palliative care for those patients who have complex needs. They do not see everyone who has a life-limiting illness, as this would be an impossible task. Many patients do not need the specialist palliative care that is provided by Macmillan nurses, as they are very well supported by all their usual carers, such as the district nurse, and carers who work in care homes and provide general palliative care. (Specialist palliative care and general palliative care are defi ned in the previous chapter.) Although in most areas anyone can refer a patient to the Macmillan service, referrals generally come
consultants and general practitioners.
