Palliative care is the care of people who are dying from active, progressive diseases or other conditions that are not responsive to curative treatment.
PHOs are funded to provide palliative care. The purpose of the care is to ensure that ‘all people who are dying and their family/whanau who would benefit from palliative are have timely access to quality palliative care services that are culturally appropriate and are provided in a coordinated way.’
Palliative care targets the last three months of life. Care delivery is responsive to individual need and circumstances. Specialist services provide input as required with the General Practice team being the hub of care for the dying person and their family/whanau.
It is the aim of the PHO to support General Practice teams to provide timely, appropriate and compassionate care to their patients  in their communities.
There is no charge for the service which is accessed through the General Practice team.