On this page, we explain some of the common terms used in palliative and end of life care.

• Advance Care Planning: A process in which patients discuss and document their preferences for future medical treatment and care. It may include decisions about life-sustaining treatment, organ donation, and preferred place of death. Find out more about advance care planning.
• DNACPR (Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation): This is a decision made by you and a healthcare professional involved in your care. This means if your heart or breathing stops, your healthcare team will not try to restart it using CPR. This decision is usually made so that you do not receive a treatment that may prolong or cause suffering at the end of your life and allows you a natural death. Find out more about DNACPR on the NHS website.
• End-of-Life Care: End of life care involves treatment, care and support for people who are thought to be in the last year of life. Palliative care includes end of life care.
• Hospice Care: Specialist care for people with a life limiting illness. This can be delivered at home, in a hospice, or in a hospital.
• Life-Limiting Illness: A life limiting illness is one that cannot be cured and is sometimes referred to as a terminal illness. This can include cancer but also includes any condition where the person is not expected to get better, for example chronic lung disease, heart failure, dementia, or chronic kidney disease.
• Palliative Care: Palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and that of their families who are facing challenges associated with life-threatening illness, whether physical, psychological, social or spiritual. The quality of life of caregivers improves as well. (World Health Organisation)
• Quality of Life: The overall well-being of a person, encompassing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions. In palliative care, the aim is to maximise the patient’s quality of life, regardless of the progression of their illness.
• Symptom Management: The process of identifying and treating symptoms like pain, nausea, breathlessness, and anxiety to improve a patient’s comfort and quality of life.
• Universal Care Plan: In London, advance care planning is recorded through the Universal Care Plan. The Universal Care Plan (UCP) is a digital care plan based on what matters to you. It allows your wishes, along with your individual care and support needs, to be shared digitally with healthcare professionals involved in your care in London.