Research published yesterday from Marie Curie Cancer Care, the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian has shown that only 20% of non-cancer patients receive palliative care before dying.
The research included the cases of 684 patients in Scotland and it was found that 20% of patients diagnosed with organ failure or dementia, either requested or were identified for palliative care before dying, compared to 75% of cancer patients.
The researchers also noted that the gap between diagnosis with a fatal illness and receiving palliative care was considerable, and that many patients receive the care too late to fully benefit from it.
European Journal of Palliative Care, online 9 September
