Growing interest in palliative care in Sweden

Bertil Axelsson, a Swedish professor specialising in palliative medicine, argues that palliative care has become more of a matter of interest in Sweden. “Over the last seven years, about 200 doctors chose to specialise in palliative medicine”, Axelsson told Dagen.

Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for the seriously ill, either in a hospital, at home or in a special accommodation such as a hospice. According to Axelsson, about 25 per cent of people who need palliative care have complex needs that require more specialised support. Currently, most of the terminally ill are treated by district doctors or in a hospice.

Axelsson argues that palliative support should become generally available, not only in certain regions. “Today, it is a lottery, depending on where you live.” The palliative care specialist has seen some improvement, as there is palliative competence both within advanced healthcare at home and in palliative care places linked to hospitals. Yet, he sees room for improvement. “It does not include children everywhere, for example. Few municipalities and hospitals have access to palliative care consultants who can give regular staff advice and support.”

Covid pandemic

The Covid pandemic made more people talk about death, Axelsson noticed. “It increased the awareness that we are all going to die.” He thinks that talking about death can bring relief to those suffering from a terminal disease. “Thinking through the practicalities, from the possibility of receiving relatives’ money to funerals and inheritance, can provide relief. But we also see how life brings joy right up to death. We see laughter, closeness and how the grandchildren crawl into the bed with great-grandfather.”