Palliative care is a type of health care. It is provided to those whose illness cannot be cured. It helps people to live as well as posssible while they manage their illness.

Palliative care concentrates on maintaining quality of life by controlling physical symptoms, such as pain or sickness. It also looks at the emotional, social or spiritual needs that people may have. It supports both the person who is dying and their carers and family.

Palliative care is an important public health issue. The World Health Organization’s definition of palliative care is used worldwide including in Australia.

This page was created on 01 December 2007
Last updated 17 February 2010