{"id":1551,"date":"2025-12-05T14:26:31","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T14:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/pages\/pharmacy-services\/local-negotiated-services\/palliative-care\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T13:08:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T13:08:16","slug":"palliative-care","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/pages\/pharmacy-services\/local-negotiated-services\/palliative-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Palliative Care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Service specification <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Palliative care in the pharmacy sector refers to the specialized role pharmacists play in improving the quality of life for patients with serious, life-limiting illnesses by managing medications and symptoms effectively. Here\u2019s a clear breakdown:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What is Palliative Care?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Palliative care is a patient- and family-centred approach that focuses on relieving suffering and optimising quality of life for individuals facing life-threatening conditions. It addresses physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs and can be provided alongside curative treatments or as part of end-of-life care (hospice). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ashp.org\/-\/media\/assets\/policy-guidelines\/docs\/guidelines\/pharmacists-roles-palliative-hospice-care.pdf\">[ashp.org]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Role of Pharmacy in Palliative Care<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pharmacists are integral members of the interdisciplinary palliative care team. Their responsibilities include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Medication Optimization: Selecting and adjusting drugs to manage pain, nausea, breathlessness, and other symptoms while minimizing side effects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deprescribing: Discontinuing unnecessary or harmful medications to reduce polypharmacy risks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alternative Routes &amp; Formulations: Preparing nontraditional dosage forms (e.g., transdermal patches, compounded solutions) for patients who cannot take oral medications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Education: Counselling patients, families, and healthcare teams on medication use, side effects, and safe administration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monitoring &amp; Adjustments: Regularly reviewing therapy for effectiveness and safety, including opioid conversions and managing drug interactions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emergency Support: Providing rapid access to \u201cjust in case\u201d medications for symptom crisis. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pharmacytimes.com\/view\/palliative-care-the-pharmacists-role\">[pharmacytimes.com]<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medboundhub.com\/t\/pharmacist-involvement-in-palliative-care\/5473\">[medboundhub.com]<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news-medical.net\/health\/The-Pharmacists-Role-in-Palliative-Care.aspx\">[news-medical.net]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How Does It Work in Pharmacy Practice?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Palliative care in pharmacy involves collaboration and continuity across settings (hospital, hospice, community pharmacy). Key processes include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Comprehensive Medication Review: Assessing all current drugs for appropriateness and safety.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Symptom Control Planning: Developing individualised regimens for pain, nausea, anxiety, and other distressing symptoms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coordination Across Care Settings: Ensuring timely supply and administration of medicines when patients move between home, hospital, and hospice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interdisciplinary Integration: Pharmacists work closely with doctors, nurses, and social workers to align medication plans with patient goals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advocacy &amp; Safety: Preventing medication errors and ensuring access to essential drugs, which is critical because poor medicines management can lead to unnecessary suffering and hospital admissions. <a href=\"https:\/\/pharmaceutical-journal.com\/article\/opinion\/pharmacy-teams-are-essential-to-driving-responsive-palliative-care\">[pharmaceut\u2026ournal.com]<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pharmacytimes.com\/view\/more-than-just-meds-what-a-palliative-care-pharmacist-learned-from-the-bedside\">[pharmacytimes.com]<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uspharmacist.com\/article\/pharmacist-involvement-in-hospice-and-palliative-care\">[uspharmacist.com]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>In short: Palliative care in pharmacy is about safe, effective, and compassionate medication management to relieve symptoms and support patients and families during serious illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here are some excellent resources for palliative care in pharmacy practice, including UK-specific and NHS Highland options:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>UK &amp; General Pharmacy Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) \u2013 Palliative Care Resources<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Guidance on opioid switching, symptom management, and medicines for swallowing difficulties.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Includes links to Clinical Knowledge Summaries and BNF guidance.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sps.nhs.uk\/articles\/palliative-care-useful-resources-to-support-answering-questions\/\">Access SPS Resources<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sps.nhs.uk\/articles\/palliative-care-useful-resources-to-support-answering-questions\/\">[sps.nhs.uk]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Royal Pharmaceutical Society \u2013 Daffodil Standards<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Free framework for community pharmacies to improve end-of-life care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Includes webinars, toolkits, and quality improvement steps.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rpharms.com\/recognition\/setting-professional-standards\/daffodil-standards\">Learn about Daffodil Standards<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rpharms.com\/recognition\/setting-professional-standards\/daffodil-standards\">[rpharms.com]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Association of Supportive and Palliative Care Pharmacy (ASPCP)<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Professional network, educational events, and practice-sharing resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Free membership available.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/aspcp.uk\/\">Join ASPCP<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/aspcp.uk\/\">[aspcp.uk]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Palliative Care Formulary (PCF)<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Comprehensive drug information for palliative and hospice care, including syringe driver compatibility.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pharmaceuticalpress.com\/products\/palliative-care-formulary\/\">Explore PCF<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pharmaceuticalpress.com\/products\/palliative-care-formulary\/\">[pharmaceut\u2026lpress.com]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CPPE Palliative Care Learning<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Structured online courses and workshops for UK pharmacists.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cppe.ac.uk\/gateway\/palliative\">CPPE Palliative Care<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cppe.ac.uk\/gateway\/palliative\">[cppe.ac.uk]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/media\/8237\/cp-palliative-care-jic-stocklist-info-resources.docx\">CP Palliative Care JIC Stocklist &amp; Info Resources<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/media\/8238\/end-of-life-care-together-24-hour-helpline.pdf\">End of Life Care Together &#8211; 24 hour Helpline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/media\/8393\/palliative-care-anticipatory-care-jic-prescribing-guide-and-cp-stockholder-list-dec23-new.docx\">Palliative Care Anticipatory Care (JIC) Prescribing Guide and CP Stockholder List<\/a>&nbsp;(December 2023)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/media\/8240\/palliative-care-model-scheme-agreement-form-april-2015.docx\">Palliative Care Model Scheme agreement form April 2015<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/media\/8241\/palliative-care-service-specification-2017-2018.docx\">Palliative care Service Specification 2017- 2018&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/media\/8242\/pch-referral-form-a4.pdf\">PCH referral form A4<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"nhsuk-card__description\">Service specification Palliative care in the pharmacy sector refers to the specialized role pharmacists play in improving the quality of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"parent":1481,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1551","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1551"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1804,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1551\/revisions\/1804"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}