For many of us, October is palliative care awareness month, There are several global campaigns win October including:
- ‘Hats On For Children’s Palliative Care’ (#HatsOn4CPC) which was held on Friday 13th October,
- World Hospice and Palliative Care Day on Saturday 14th October.
- Baby Loss Awareness Week 9th to 15th October
So it is an important time for ongoing advocacy for palliative care. Recently ICPCN’s Chief Executive had the opportunity to write an editorial for the International Journal of Palliative Nursing highlighting the need for palliative care services around the world – with many individuals – both children and adult, around the world not having access to palliative care, thus suffering needles pain and other symptoms. With less than 10% of those 21 million children able to access care for themselves and their families, where services do exist, many in low-and middle-income settings are underfunded and inadequate to meet the overwhelming need. As a result of lack of access, millions of children and adults have a poor quality of life and suffer from physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual pain and other distressing symptoms that could be significantly improved through quality palliative care services.
Within her editorial Prof Julia asks why with all of this advocacy taking place over the past 10 to 20 years, palliative care is still not available to all in need around the world, regardless of age, gender, nationality, and where they live. Why are there millions of children and adults around the world suffering needlessly? We know how to provide palliative care in a range of settings, including high-income settings, low- and middle-income settings, humanitarian-settings, within the hospitals, at home and in other settings – so why are services not available? She challenges us to continue to advocate for palliative care for all.
Her editorial can be found here