The development of a palliative care team at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh

The evolution of palliative medicine as a specialty in the UK has meant that specialist services for palliative care are now being integrated into the acute hospital setting. The developing multidisciplinary team at the Western General Hospital is the first in Scotland and is based in the Regional Cancer Unit but has a hospital-wide remit. Advice is given on complex aspects of advancing disease to patients (and their families) suffering from cancer as well as on non-malignant disease. Evaluation of these teams and their effectiveness is discussed.