What you will get from this briefing
- A range of recommendations for governments, policy makers and healthcare professionals, with the aim of promoting adequate access to analgesia for patients at the end of life.
- An exploration of the distinct issues surrounding the potential overuse of analgesics in patients suffering from chronic pain.
Key findings
- The number of people needing end-of-life care expected to rise over the next 15 years.
- Access to round the clock pain relief provided by specialist palliative care teams is patchy across the UK.
- Patients with non-cancer terminal illnesses are likely to experience poorer access to adequate pain relief than cancer patients, and are less likely to receive palliative care.