Palliative Care Services

Palliative care is the active holistic care of patients with advanced progressive illness. It includes the management of pain and other symptoms and provision of psychological, social and spiritual support. The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families. Many aspects of palliative care are also applicable earlier in the course of the illness in conjunction with other treatments.

Palliative care aims to:

• Affirm life and regard dying as a normal process
• Provide relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
• Integrate the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
• Offer a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death
• Offer a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness and in their own bereavement

(Definition taken from the National Council for Palliative Care)

The Palliative Care Service in Bolton

The Primary Care Trust’s Palliative Care Team includes Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists who work closely with Bolton Hospice staff and other colleagues.

They provide therapy, help patients manage fatigue, anxiety and other symptoms, advise on moving patients, assess mobility problems, and provide walking aids and other equipment.

The team work in the Hospice wards and day unit and in people’s own homes.

How to Access this Service

Patients can be referred to the service by their own GP, their District Nurse, Hospice staff, or other therapists.

 Bolton Palliative and End of Life Care (EoLC) Webpages.