Reform and modernisation: developing a new service model for palliative care

Palliative and end-of-life care is facing a period of unprecedented change, which is influenced by changing patterns of care, new policy frameworks and increased knowledge. Familiarity with death within society as a whole has decreased: generally, we do not discuss death or dying, and it can be argued that this has contributed to its low profile in health- and social care. It has been well documented that there is a major mismatch between people’s expressed preferences for where they should die and their actual place of death. It is also acknowledged that reform and modernisation of palliative care services are required to meet an increasing demand resulting from changes in demography and the prevalence of chronic illness.