Over half of people who require palliative care feel that their emotional and psychological needs are not being met, while almost half want better coordination of their care and treatment, a new survey has revealed.

According to the findings, almost seven in 10 people with palliative care needs feel that planning for the future is their biggest worry and just over half feel frustrated or helpless.

Palliative care is aimed at people whose conditions cannot be cured. The goal is to provide the best quality of life in the time they have left, which can be anything from days to years.

The survey was coordinated by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) and it involved 528 palliative care users in both the Republic and Northern Ireland.

It revealed that at least one in three people felt that they received too little information too late, while almost one in four felt that sensitive issues were avoided altogether.

At least one in three felt that control of their care was in someone else's hands, while one in five felt that their choices were limited.

Furthermore, one in five felt that their family and friends were forgotten about or excluded from the care process.

It was not all bad news however, with almost half stating that they were communicated with clearly and sensitively.

According to the head of the AIIHPC, Karen Charnley, the findings challenge the way in which care providers respond to people with palliative care needs.

"The research highlights the need to build the competences and communications skills of healthcare professionals to support them and those they care for to talk openly and sensitively about care. This is particularly important for those professionals who people with palliative care needs most regularly come into contact with, including GPs, nurses and medical consultants," she noted.

Ms Charnley added that the survey also challenges wider society ‘to talk and think more about palliative care and end of life care'.

The survey was jointly commissioned by the HSE and Northern Ireland's Public Health Agency and the findings are included in the report, Let's Talk About Palliative Care, which can be viewed here