Exploring perceived barriers to palliative and end of life care provision in South-West England: bringing together the perspectives of professionals, patients, and families
IntroductionPalliative and End of Life care (PEoLC) in the United Kingdom (UK) is increasingly being reported as inadequate. This is occurring amidst a wider backdrop of health and social care systems facing unprecedented pressure, particularly as they recover from the long-term impact of the COVID-...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Sociology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1488688/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832593543593459712 |
|---|---|
| author | Gary Hodge Gina Kallis Tomasina M. Oh Hannah Wheat Susie Pearce Susie Pearce |
| author_facet | Gary Hodge Gina Kallis Tomasina M. Oh Hannah Wheat Susie Pearce Susie Pearce |
| author_sort | Gary Hodge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionPalliative and End of Life care (PEoLC) in the United Kingdom (UK) is increasingly being reported as inadequate. This is occurring amidst a wider backdrop of health and social care systems facing unprecedented pressure, particularly as they recover from the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to explore the barriers to PEoLC faced by those providing and receiving care in South-West England (UK). This region of the UK brings its own set of unique challenges due to its rural and coastal location, an aging population, and a historical lack of research.MethodsAn exploratory study was conducted which involved patients, families, and professionals who were providing and receiving PEoLC. A total of 13 qualitative focus groups were held with a total of 63 participants; 45 were health and care professionals and 18 were people toward the end of their life, family/carers and people who were bereaved.ResultsA range of barriers were identified for those providing and receiving PEoLC services. These were a lack of specialist palliative and EoL care resources (particularly in out-of-hours care); poor communication, collaboration and co-ordination across providers; inequalities in the access and provision of care; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and a reluctance to have conversations about death and dying.ConclusionThis study brings together the voices of patients, family, and professionals from different settings in a geographical area of the UK. Understanding their experiences and perceived barriers to care is key to being able to develop and transform care. Ultimately, there is a need for a collaborative and co-ordinated approach across both practice and research, working toward what is important to those providing, and most importantly, those receiving care at the end of their lives. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-506c9485f9664a6b80bdccd2e9ebc5c6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2297-7775 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sociology |
| spelling | doaj-art-506c9485f9664a6b80bdccd2e9ebc5c62025-01-20T12:03:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sociology2297-77752025-01-01910.3389/fsoc.2024.14886881488688Exploring perceived barriers to palliative and end of life care provision in South-West England: bringing together the perspectives of professionals, patients, and familiesGary Hodge0Gina Kallis1Tomasina M. Oh2Hannah Wheat3Susie Pearce4Susie Pearce5School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United KingdomSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United KingdomPeninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United KingdomPeninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United KingdomSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United KingdomTorbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Torbay, United KingdomIntroductionPalliative and End of Life care (PEoLC) in the United Kingdom (UK) is increasingly being reported as inadequate. This is occurring amidst a wider backdrop of health and social care systems facing unprecedented pressure, particularly as they recover from the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to explore the barriers to PEoLC faced by those providing and receiving care in South-West England (UK). This region of the UK brings its own set of unique challenges due to its rural and coastal location, an aging population, and a historical lack of research.MethodsAn exploratory study was conducted which involved patients, families, and professionals who were providing and receiving PEoLC. A total of 13 qualitative focus groups were held with a total of 63 participants; 45 were health and care professionals and 18 were people toward the end of their life, family/carers and people who were bereaved.ResultsA range of barriers were identified for those providing and receiving PEoLC services. These were a lack of specialist palliative and EoL care resources (particularly in out-of-hours care); poor communication, collaboration and co-ordination across providers; inequalities in the access and provision of care; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and a reluctance to have conversations about death and dying.ConclusionThis study brings together the voices of patients, family, and professionals from different settings in a geographical area of the UK. Understanding their experiences and perceived barriers to care is key to being able to develop and transform care. Ultimately, there is a need for a collaborative and co-ordinated approach across both practice and research, working toward what is important to those providing, and most importantly, those receiving care at the end of their lives.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1488688/fullpalliative carepatientprofessionalsfamily carershospice careend of life care |
| spellingShingle | Gary Hodge Gina Kallis Tomasina M. Oh Hannah Wheat Susie Pearce Susie Pearce Exploring perceived barriers to palliative and end of life care provision in South-West England: bringing together the perspectives of professionals, patients, and families Frontiers in Sociology palliative care patient professionals family carers hospice care end of life care |
| title | Exploring perceived barriers to palliative and end of life care provision in South-West England: bringing together the perspectives of professionals, patients, and families |
| title_full | Exploring perceived barriers to palliative and end of life care provision in South-West England: bringing together the perspectives of professionals, patients, and families |
| title_fullStr | Exploring perceived barriers to palliative and end of life care provision in South-West England: bringing together the perspectives of professionals, patients, and families |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring perceived barriers to palliative and end of life care provision in South-West England: bringing together the perspectives of professionals, patients, and families |
| title_short | Exploring perceived barriers to palliative and end of life care provision in South-West England: bringing together the perspectives of professionals, patients, and families |
| title_sort | exploring perceived barriers to palliative and end of life care provision in south west england bringing together the perspectives of professionals patients and families |
| topic | palliative care patient professionals family carers hospice care end of life care |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1488688/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT garyhodge exploringperceivedbarrierstopalliativeandendoflifecareprovisioninsouthwestenglandbringingtogethertheperspectivesofprofessionalspatientsandfamilies AT ginakallis exploringperceivedbarrierstopalliativeandendoflifecareprovisioninsouthwestenglandbringingtogethertheperspectivesofprofessionalspatientsandfamilies AT tomasinamoh exploringperceivedbarrierstopalliativeandendoflifecareprovisioninsouthwestenglandbringingtogethertheperspectivesofprofessionalspatientsandfamilies AT hannahwheat exploringperceivedbarrierstopalliativeandendoflifecareprovisioninsouthwestenglandbringingtogethertheperspectivesofprofessionalspatientsandfamilies AT susiepearce exploringperceivedbarrierstopalliativeandendoflifecareprovisioninsouthwestenglandbringingtogethertheperspectivesofprofessionalspatientsandfamilies AT susiepearce exploringperceivedbarrierstopalliativeandendoflifecareprovisioninsouthwestenglandbringingtogethertheperspectivesofprofessionalspatientsandfamilies |