Continuously improving patient care through palliative care research, development and education.

The Institute is committed to develop service improvement, education and research within an academic framework that will promote sustained clinical improvement in palliative and specialist palliative care.

The programmes that are developed aim to make a real difference to patients, carers and the staff and health workers within this sensitive area of healthcare.

Spiritual Needs at the End of Life

''The goal of assessing religious and/or spiritual care is not an 'in-depth' assessment of a persons spirituality, but it does prompt staff to give patient's and carers, some who may not even normally regard themselves as 'Religious' or 'Spiritual' an opportunity to examine those things that have been or are important to them in their lives and as they approach death.

It can include Religious ceremony as an expression of their spirituality but it may as likely involve making peace with family and friends, writing letters, making a will, planning their funeral or even just being left in peace!

Essentially it prompts busy clinical staff to consider the whole person, when we can sometimes be task driven or focus on physical symptoms.

By asking the question it should help us avoid making assumptions about a persons beliefs and allow us to deliver individualised care and minimise the impact of grief for those we leave behind."

Phil Saltmarsh

Macmillan Team Leader, Specialist Palliative Care Team

The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Liverpool UK