The Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre brings together researchers, health and social care professionals from a range of disciplines, patients, families and members of the public to find and help deliver the best palliative care services and treatments.
We conduct palliative care research, and provide education and information relevant to the needs of people living with and dying from serious illness, their families and communities. We aim to improve quality of life and reduce inequalities in care, especially those driven by socio-economic status and diagnosis.
We are committed to involving patients, carers, families and local communities as active partners in shaping our research. We want to make sure that people with many different perspectives and experiences have the chance to influence what we do and how we do it. This helps us to focus on what really matters to people.
Our research is currently or has been previously funded by the following organisations. We are very grateful for their support so we can make a real difference to palliative care.
Creating Connections Palliative Care Conference
Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre and University Of Technology Sydney
Wednesday 10 February 2021
Thank you to everyone who attended our Conference.
It provided an opportunity to see some of the exciting and leading-edge research being undertaken as part of our collaboration funded by the Research England's International Investment Initiative (I3). The I3 builds on the established partnership between our both our research Centres.
Please visit our Conference webpage for video recordings and presentations from the event.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is the active total care of people with progressive, life-limiting illness to help them to live well through control of symptoms, support for psychological, social and spiritual concerns and care for their families and friends.
Palliative care can be applied as an extra layer of care alongside treatment of medical conditions which aims to cure or prolong life. It should be available according to need, and not restricted by diagnosis or prognosis.
Discover more about our Centre and our research
The work of the Centre is making a real difference to patient’s lives – and their families too. Discover more about our inspirational people and our impactful research through our pages below.
If you are inspired by our research and you would like to collaborate, visit or study with us, please do get in touch: WolfsonPallCare@hyms.ac.uk
Latest Wolfson news
Professor of Palliative Care job opportunity
We have an exciting new job opportunity – applications are invited for a new Professor of Palliative Care to join our dynamic and multidisciplinary Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre. The closing date for applications is 12 September 2021.
Breathless and awaiting diagnosis in UK lockdown for COVID-19…We’re stuck
An interview study by researchers at the University of Leicester and the Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre shows that breathless patients’ healthcare has been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic causing further delays in an already unpredictable and long pathway to diagnosis, and methods they employ to cope with their breathlessness symptoms were compromised by the lockdown situation. We recommend that patients and clinicians need to proactively re-engage with the pathway to diagnosis, treatment and management of chronic breathlessness. Despite challenges to ensure access to healthcare including diagnostic services, there remain opportunities to support patients to manage their symptoms regardless of the diagnosis. Read the paper here.
Professor Fliss Murtagh presents at Singapore forum
On 23 March 2021, Professor Fliss Murtagh presented as international invited expert in a virtual forum hosted by Singhealth Duke-NUS Supportive and Palliative Care Centre, Singapore. Over 1,000 participants logged in for her presentation on ‘Outcomes that Matter to Patients and Families’, and a range of questions were discussed. Best wishes to all our colleagues at the Singhealth Duke-NUS Supportive and Palliative Care Centre as they work to improve care for all people needing palliative care support. Their work – and the forum – is highlighted by the Straits Times.
POS Workshop 2021
Professor Fliss Murtagh is presenting on IPOS and other outcome measures to improve palliative care, at the annual POS Workshop 2021 at the Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London. This is on 29 March 2021 between 9am and 1.10pm. Find out more and register on the King's College London website.
The Limbic article: End-of-life patient experience shows unmet need in non-cancer respiratory disease
In this large mortality follow-back study of functional decline and symptom distress in advanced malignant and non-malignant lung diseases using consecutive, routinely collected, point-of-care national data, we found that trajectories of functional decline are very similar between these two groups. Pain was the predominant symptom in people with cancer, while it was breathlessness in people with non-malignant end-stage respiratory diseases. Traditionally, "differences in trajectory" are given to explain the "too little, too late" referrals to palliative care services for people with non-malignant lung disease. This study challenges that dogma. Read the paper on the BMJ or visit The Limbic (membership required)
New study findings: Palliative care needs better integration with health care systems for this and future pandemics/epidemics
A multinational study including researchers from the Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre has found that palliative and hospice care responded actively to the COVID-19 pandemic but were missed from multinational pandemic responses. The study found that better integration of palliative care with health systems is required, especially the charity managed services. Find out more on the KCL website