The palliative counselling service (Palliativkonsiliardienst – PKD) is a multi-professional team in hospitals. It is primarily aimed at the attending medical staff and nursing staff on the wards and in the outpatient clinics – and only secondarily at the patients and their relatives. Members of the PKD are generally only involved as advisors. Their tasks include:
- Symptom control, for example in cases of pain, nausea, vomiting or weight loss
- Palliative care
- Psychosocial support
The attending medical staff and the employees of the respective ward decide which measures are to be taken.