Living matters dying matters: a palliative and end of life care strategy for adults in Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Health Minister launched 'Living Matters Dying Matters: A Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy for Adults in Northern Ireland’. Palliative and end of life care is the active care of patients with advanced progressive illness. This report outlines the strategy and identifies palliative and end of life care as a continuum of care that evolves as a person's condition progresses. This, the report suggests, is an integral part of care delivered by all health care professionals, families and carers, to those living with, and dying from any advanced, progressive and incurable condition. The strategy highlights how palliative and end of life care should focus on the person rather than the disease, and aims to ensure quality of life for those living with an advanced, incurable condition. The 5 year strategy presented offers vision and direction for service planning and delivery, and has been developed so implementation fits within the existing legal framework. The strategy builds on current