The role of the palliative care unit in the organization of services to patients with cancer: a discussion paper based on local attitudes to services for patients with breast cancer in the Hillingdon District

Each health district in the UK aims to provide services for cancer patients from the time of diagnosis to death. The role of the palliative care unit in district-based cancer management is still developing. This paper presents data which were part of an informal study investigating areas of uncertainty, dissatisfaction and controversy perceived by both patients and health-care professionals about local services for patients with breast cancer within a single health district. In this report we consider attitudes to the provision of terminal care for these patients and discuss implications for the integration of a palliative care unit in district-based cancer management.