End of life care is support for people who are approaching death. It helps them to live as well as possible until they die, and to die with dignity. It also includes support for their family or carers.

End of life care includes palliative care. If you have an incurable illness, palliative care will help to make you as comfortable as possible by relieving pain and other distressing symptoms while providing psychological, social and spiritual support for you and your family or carers. This is called a holistic approach to care, as it deals with the ‘whole’ person rather than just one aspect of their care.

You may receive palliative care early in the course of your illness together with other therapies, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, before you are considered to be nearing the end of your life.
 
In this end of life care guide, 'end of life care' also covers legal issues, such as creating a lasting power of attorney so that the person or people of your choice can make decisions about your care if you are no longer able to do so.

Who provides end of life care?

Many healthcare professionals can be involved in providing end of life care, depending on your needs. Hospital doctors and nurses, your GP, community nurses, hospice staff and counsellors might all be involved, as well as social services, religious ministers, physiotherapists or complementary therapists.

Most hospitals have special palliative care teams who co-ordinate all these services. As a patient, you have the right to choose where you want to receive care and where you want to die. A palliative care team can provide end of life care to patients and their families in hospitals, care homes, hospices and at home.

When does end of life care begin?

When end of life care begins depends on your needs.

The General Medical Council considers that patients are approaching the end of life when they are likely to die within the next 12 months. This includes patients who are expected to die within the next few hours or days, and those with advanced incurable conditions. It can also include people who have: 

• general frailty and co-existing conditions that mean they are likely to die within 12 months
• existing conditions, if they are at risk of dying from a sudden crisis in their condition
• life-threatening acute conditions caused by sudden catastrophic events, such as an accident or a stroke

End of life care may last a few days, or for months or years. End of life care begins when you need it, and will continue for as long as you need it.

This guide also contains information about planning ahead for your future care.