Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness. It is carried out by means of early identification and assessment/treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems. 

End-of-life care (EoLC) helps those with advanced, progressive, life-threatening illness to live as well as possible through the prevention and relief of suffering. It enables the needs of both patient and family to be identified and met throughout the last phase of life and into bereavement. It includes management of pain and other symptoms, and provision of psychological, social, spiritual and practical support.

Death certificates

The Royal College of General Practitioners has produced a death certification guidance document.

Pan-London EoLC MAAR chart 

An EoLC Medical Authorisation and Administration Record (MAAR) was agreed by the London-wide Clinical Advisory Group in July 2020. See Downloads for more information.

Special Rules

Special Rules allow people nearing the end of life to get faster and easier access to certain benefits, higher payments for certain benefits, and allows them to avoid a medical assessment.

Clinicians can be asked to provide medical evidence on an SR1 form to support a benefit claim made under the Special Rules. The SR1 form has replaced the DS1500 form.

See the Department for Work and Pensions website for further information.