For a number of reasons, not everyone who needs good end-of-life care is able to receive it, writes Yvonne Luxford

Perhaps it is because it is such a young discipline that palliative care engages in a lot of self-analysis. Unlike some other forms of navel gazing, this has positive ramifications for patient care and results in significant improvements in quality. A major reason for Australia being awarded the interesting accolade of being the second-best place in the world to die is due to the federal government's policy support for palliative care. This is represented in the National Palliative Care Strategy and various related funding initiatives, but significantly in the support for quality improvement...