Expanding Palliative Care Beyond Cancer: Addressing the Growing Needs of Non-Malignant Conditions

For decades, palliative care has been closely associated with cancer. However, the landscape of serious illness is evolving, and with it, the need to expand palliative care services to encompass a broader range of conditions. A growing proportion of individuals are living with complex, life-limiting illnesses beyond cancer, necessitating a shift in how we deliver palliative and end-of-life care.

Why the Need Is Growing

Traditionally focused on oncology, palliative care is increasingly relevant for conditions such as dementia, organ failure, progressive neurological disorders, rare diseases, and multi-morbid frailty. This shift is driven by several factors:

• Dementia: Now the leading cause of death in the UK, dementia presents unique challenges due to its unpredictable progression. Palliative care can improve quality of life for both patients and their families.
• Chronic Organ Failure: Conditions like heart, liver, renal, respiratory, and gastrointestinal diseases often involve fluctuating patterns of decline that can be overlooked until late in the disease course.
• Rare and Complex Neurological Conditions: Diseases such as Huntington’s disease and rapidly progressive dementias require specialized understanding.
• Multimorbidity and Frailty: An increasing number of individuals experience multiple chronic conditions and frailty, demanding a holistic approach to care.

Meeting these evolving needs is not merely an option; it is a moral, professional, and societal imperative.

Building a Skilled and Confident Workforce

To ensure equitable access to high-quality palliative care, regardless of diagnosis, the healthcare workforce must be equipped with the necessary skills, and knowledge. This requires:

• Recognizing early palliative care needs in non-cancer diagnoses.
• Understanding symptom profiles unique to complex and rare conditions.
• Supporting families through prolonged and uncertain disease trajectories.
• Fostering collaboration across medical specialties.
• Prioritizing personhood, dignity, and patient choice throughout the care process.

Expanding Horizons in Palliative Care: A National Conference

St Catherine’s Hospice Preston is hosting a pioneering two-day national conference dedicated entirely to non-malignant palliative care:

“Expanding Horizons in Palliative Care: Non-Malignant Conditions in Focus”

Dates: 8th & 9th June 2026
Location: Barton Manor Hotel & Spa, Preston (PR3 5AA)

This conference is designed for a multidisciplinary audience, including clinicians, allied health professionals, educators, researchers, and those involved in shaping future service delivery. It aims to deepen knowledge, broaden perspectives, and promote confident, compassionate practice.

Featured Topics Include:

• Supportive care and palliative medicine in rapidly progressive conditions
• Gastrointestinal dystonia
• Persisting disorders of consciousness: rehabilitation or palliation?
• Huntington’s disease
• Dementia and behavioural disturbance
• Challenges in palliative care for non-malignant liver disease
• Intestinal failure
• Supporting people with ventilatory failure
• Interstitial lung disease
• Renal disease and frailty

Registration:

Early Bird Rate (until 13th March, 5pm): £220
Book online or email education@stcatherines.co.uk for invoice requests.

Palliative Care: A Universal Right

Palliative care is not limited to those with a cancer diagnosis or a specific prognosis. It is a fundamental right for anyone facing a serious illness. By expanding our knowledge and expertise in non-malignant palliative care, we can ensure compassionate, high-quality care for all who need it.