As the issue of equality of access to health-care services becomes more important, there is increasing concern that specialist palliative care services in the UK are under-used by minority ethnic groups (Haroon-Iqbal et al, 1995; Karim et al, 2000). Research into the provision of such services for black and minority ethnic communities identified a number of factors that contribute to a perceived low take-up of services (Hill and Penso, 1995). A strategy to promote ethnic and racial sensitivity in palliative care service delivery, and policies to improve access to, and take-up of, services was recommended. This article presents the important elements relating to equal access to specialist palliative care and the provision of culturally sensitive services, and examines the role of the Macmillan Ethnic Minorities Liaison Officer in the Bradford community palliative care team.
A49-year-old male model developed an acute severe occipital headache and neck stiffness following a day spent striking dynamic poses for a modelling assignment, during which he had been required to hold his head in several awkward positions for protracted periods of time. In the subsequent 24 hours he developed slurred speech, poor balance and a persistent pain in the neck. On presentation to hospital he was dysarthric and ataxic of gait, and had upper limb weakness, finger nose ataxia, an upper motor neurone facial nerve palsy and an extensor plantar response. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a 2 cm × 1 cm infarction in the left pons extending to the midbrain (Figure 1). The patient was commenced on aspirin and by 8 weeks his neurological symptoms had completely resolved.
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