Hong Kong’s growing need for palliative care services and the role of the nursing profession

Abstract

This viewpoint paper explores the growing emphasis and social need for palliative care from a global perspective, juxtaposed against the Hong Kong status quo and its increasing need for such services. It further highlights that the role of nursing within palliative care is central to patients receiving the best quality of care. Hong Kong’s current delivery models are generally insufficient and can be improved by the adoption of five recommended policy changes, which reinforce the position of nurses as vital to creating a better service. These recommendations will enable nurses to take the lead in future palliative care delivery frameworks, enabling more efficient planning of future management of patients’ pain and other symptoms, social, spiritual, or emotional needs that arise during assessment. Its value may extend to other countries and settings.