ABSTRACT
Only 20% of terminally ill people with cancer in Italy are assisted by a network of palliative care, whereas the majority of them die in the hospital, against their will, and with very low doses of opioids. A palliative care service, is offered by the Nucleus of Palliative care within the Operative Unit of District Primary Care in the local health agency n. 7 of Pieve di Soligo. This service takes charge of the patient from hospital discharge until his/her death, working in concert with the inpatieint hospitals and other territorial health care structures. In this way, the patient and his/her family are followed by a team of professionals working together in coordination and collaboration. In 2010 the percentage of terminally ill persons enrolled in the program was 52%, much greater than the standard of 45% required by ministerial law (DM no 43 del 2007) for the local health agencies without a hospice. The duration of time spent at home during the last phases of the illness was over 90% of time in care, with an in-home mortality of 63%. The consumption of major opioids was amongst the highest in Italy. Thanks to the opening of a hospice, already planned, we will be able to take charge within the network of palliative care thos sick people who cannot remain in the home and extend the service to ill persons without cancer in conditions of advanced incurable disease and end of life.
