ABSTRACT
Palliative care is long established in East London, arguably longer so than nearly anywhere else in the UK. St Joseph’s Hospice, based in Hackney, has been providing care to people facing progressive and life threatening conditions for over 100 years. The Hospice was introduced by the Sisters of Charity, who came from Dublin in 1905 to provide end of life care for the Irish people dying from a variety of conditions, including tuberculosis, arising as a result of poor living conditions (Winslow and Clark 2005). Over the last century other services have grown up in the area, providing additional help and support to those who are dying or bereaved. These include health teams working in primary and secondary care and other voluntary sector organisations. Their input is augmented by local authorities and other social care agencies. Other players exist too: the police will often support those facing bereavement following unexpected death; teachers in schools work with children and young people who have lost a family member or peer; and community leaders/religious leaders support groups as well as individuals who are traumatised as a consequence of terminal illness or bereavement.
