Difficulties in identifying distress and its causes in people with severe communication problems

Abstract

In 1999 a palliative care team was established for adults with severe learning disabilities at Northgate Hospital in the North East of England. It was given NHS Beacon status in 2001 and now provides specialist advice to patients with learning disabilities who have a life-limiting or life-threatening illness through cancer, dementia or other conditions. This partnership between learning disability and palliative care teams has produced new views of the issues faced by this group of people. Through its work with caring for such patients, one of the key issues which has arisen is identifying distress and its causes.