Common threads? Palliative care service developments in seven European countries

Clark, D. , ten Have, H. and Janssens, R. (2000) Common threads? Palliative care service developments in seven European countries. Palliative Medicine, 14(6), pp. 479-490. (doi: 10.1191/026921600701536408)

Abstract

Since the late 1960s hospice and palliative care services have been developing in many European countries. Although attention has been given to patterns of development in specific national contexts, so far we lack a comparative understanding of how these services are organized and delivered. Such a comparison poses certain practical and methodological difficulties. It does, however, allow a wider view of the current provision of palliative care in Europe, together with a consideration of implications for the future. We report on an analysis of palliative care developments in seven European countries which gave attention to early origins, patterns of provision, and structural and policy integration. We conclude that, despite different processes of development, the emergent discipline of palliative care now finds its most congenial home within the structures of the formal health care system. Accordingly, inequities between the seven countries can be more clearly identified, posing continuing challenges to policy makers and planners who operate with a European perspective.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Clark, Professor David
• Authors: Clark, D., ten Have, H., and Janssens, R.
• Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
• Journal Name: Palliative Medicine
• Journal Abbr.: Palliat. Med.
• Publisher: Sage
• ISSN: 0269-2163
• ISSN (Online): 1477-030X