The role of subcutaneous infusion in integrated, patient-centred palliative care.

The NHS Outcomes Framework (Department of Health (DH), 2010) set out the UK Government's plans to reform the NHS to focus more on patient outcomes.

Intravenous versus subcutaneous access for palliative care patients.

The subcutaneous route for medication administration can prove highly effective both in terms of reliability and clinical outcomes. It is also well tolerated by patients for whom the enteral route is not an option. This extended feature comment reviews the advantages and disadvantages of both the intravenous and subcutaneous routes of medication administration for patients requiring palliation.