What is EPIC-PC?
What is this study about?
People living with serious illnesses may need palliative care. Palliative care helps manage symptoms, improve quality of life and provide emotional and practical support. It can also support families and carers.
Much of this care is provided at home by GPs, nurses and other community healthcare teams. However, the quality and availability of palliative care can vary. Some people and communities may have more difficulty accessing the care they need.
The EPIC-PC study will explore how different healthcare teams could work together more effectively to provide palliative care. The aim is to develop a more integrated and equitable approach, so that people have a fairer chance of receiving high-quality care, regardless of where they live or their circumstances.
What will the researchers do?
The study will involve four main areas of work:
- Understanding patients' and families' needs: Researchers will talk to people with serious illnesses and their families or carers about what is important to them when receiving palliative care. They will also review patient records and use a research activity where people choose between different care options. People from areas affected by greater social and economic disadvantage will be prioritised for recruitment.
- Learning from existing services: Researchers will speak with healthcare professionals working in different areas to understand how current integrated palliative care services work and what helps or prevents them from providing good care.
- Planning resources: Computer modelling will be used to estimate the staff, services and other healthcare resources needed to provide the proposed approach. This will help ensure that the approach is both high quality and fair.
- Testing the proposed approach: Researchers will hold workshops with patients, healthcare professionals and other experts. These workshops will help identify what would be needed to put the proposed approach into practice.
Why is this important?
Everyone should have a fair opportunity to receive good palliative care. However, there are currently unfair differences in access to care between different groups and communities.
This study will help researchers understand what works, for whom, in which circumstances, and why. It will identify the conditions and resources needed for healthcare teams to work together effectively.
The findings could help local healthcare services provide better and more equal palliative care, while making the best use of limited healthcare resources.
How have patients and the public been involved?
Patients and members of the public have already helped shape the study. 16 people from different backgrounds and communities, including people living in areas affected by social and economic disadvantage, were involved for 12 months.
Patient and public involvement will continue throughout the study. Their views will help ensure that the research reflects the experiences, needs and priorities of people receiving palliative care and those who support them.
What will happen with the results?
The researchers will share the findings with patients and families, healthcare professionals, and people who plan and fund health and care services. The results will be used to help improve the way palliative care is organised in local communities. Earlier this year the UK Government published an interim Modern Service Framework for palliative care. This study, and others like it, will support delivery of the MSF so that people receive high-quality consistent care when they need it.
Mitchell S, Birtwistle J, Javeed A, et al. Equitable Palliative care In the Community through Primary Care (EPIC-PC) study protocol: a realist study to propose a new integrated neighbourhood team approach to palliative care. BMJ Open 2026;16:e116327. doi:10.
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