Death and dying in the community in 2020: what's different?

The start of a new year is a reminder of the challenges and successes of palliative caring in the previous one. While the NHS has had its fair share of challenges in 2019, from staff shortages to patients not being seen within the prescribed waiting times, when care was given, it was still the best possible. This reflects the dedication and commitment of health professionals providing a positive patient experience. Palliative care in the community seemed to have some successes, with some ambulance students I teach assuring me that they do not always rush patients to hospital each time they are called out to their homes. Thus, different services, such as ambulances, GPs and pharmacies, now provide community-based care, and they seem to appreciate the fundamentals of palliative care. Community nurses' support for patients within the home helps families stay together with the dying patient, and, as a result, ensures that the dying process occurs with dignity and respect—all of which helps with the process of bereavement.