First-ever Palliative Care Week to get underway
A public information campaign to highlight how palliative care improves the quality of life of a person with an incurable illness is taking place across Northern Ireland next week.
The campaign ‘Making The Most of Life’ will run for a week from October 6th.
It is an all-island campaign coordinated by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC). Public information will be available at www.palliativecareweek.com
The new Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety Jim Wells warmly welcomed the first-ever Palliative Care Week. “I am confident that this initiative will help to bring a greater public understanding of how a palliative care approach is beneficial for patients, carers and their families.”
AIIHPC Director Paddie Blaney said, “A palliative care approach is beneficial for anyone with a non-curable illness, regardless of age or condition and also supports their family, friends and carers both during an illness and afterwards.
“For the very best outcomes palliative care starts as early as possible and is suitable for a number of years, not just the weeks and days at the end of life.”
The campaign is being supported by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Public Health Agency, the five Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Trusts and providers of hospice and palliative care across Northern Ireland, as well as health agencies and providers in the Republic of Ireland.
Many information events will take place across during Palliative Care Week, as well as newspaper, radio and online adverts.
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I am enlightened to read that Palliative Care has been brought to the public arena. Palliation is not confined to those diagnosed with Cancer only.There is no chronic/ incurable condition any more deserving than another to .The differences between end of life care and palliative care in any condition requires clarification so those people and their families with conditions requiring either are signposted to the best care/ pathways.
Often the non cancer diagnosis has been over looked in my opinion and experience.I also hope the non statutory /charity providers of which there are many within the Island of Ireland have been involved with the launch of the Palliative Care Awareness Week iniative.
Informal carers/family caregivers I am sure will embrace this initiative.
I look forward to seeing the Palliative Care awareness launch being implemented into practice.