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Accessing Palliative Care: Challenges and Opportunities

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Textbook of Palliative Care

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Abstract

Access to palliative services is significant issue facing policymakers around the globe. Much of this discussion is centered on the important challenges facing developing nations and how healthcare leaders are seeking to integrate high-quality palliative care. But inequality of access is also apparent within developed healthcare economies. This chapter addresses some of these challenges as they are experienced by those suffering from nonmalignant conditions. Using two case studies, the chapter highlights evidence that draws attention to the ways in which people with dementia and those experiencing chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) are often excluded from palliative provision. Despite evidence over the years suggesting that these challenges are impacting patient and family outcomes, there is some suggestion that things may be changing. The chapter concludes with indications of changes to national policy, practice, and education, which may mean improved transition to palliative care for noncancer patients.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

    Tony Ryan

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  1. Tony Ryan
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Correspondence to Tony Ryan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. HammondCare Learning and Research Centre, Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich, NSW, Australia

    Roderick Duncan MacLeod

  2. Vrije Universiteit Brussel, VUB-UGent End-of-Life Care Research Grou Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Lieve Van den Block

Section Editor information

  1. Palliative and Supportive Care Service, University Hospital of Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Philip Larkin

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Ryan, T. (2024). Accessing Palliative Care: Challenges and Opportunities. In: MacLeod, R.D., Van den Block, L. (eds) Textbook of Palliative Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31738-0_30-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31738-0_30-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31738-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31738-0

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Accessing Palliative Care: Challenges and Opportunities
    Published:
    01 February 2024

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31738-0_30-2

  2. Original

    Access to Palliative Care
    Published:
    10 July 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31738-0_30-1

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