SP-01 From partnerships to practice: addressing inequities in palliative and end-of-life care

Introduction Ethnic inequities in palliative and end-of-life care (PEoLC) remain a persistent challenge across the UK. Barriers including limited awareness, mistrust of services, cultural misalignment, and linguistic difficulties continue to shape care experiences for ethnically diverse and seldom heard communities. This abstract presents three interconnected strands of work demonstrating how research, practice, and community partnership can collectively address these inequities.

Aims To present an integrated account of how a research partnership network, a community connector model, and a focused study of Eastern European communities illuminate barriers to PEoLC and identify approaches that support culturally competent, person-centred care.

Methods The abstract draws on three interlinked programmes of work:

KEEch research Partnership NETwork, a regional research partnership network engaging communities, services, and institutions to identify system-level barriers and co-produce priorities for change;

a qualitative study exploring the Community Connector model, including interviews with connectors, faith leaders and professional stakeholders; and

a doctoral study examining low uptake of PEoLC among Eastern European communities in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes and Hertfordshire, with particular attention to challenges of access and engagement.

Results KEEP-NET findings highlight fragmented pathways, limited cultural competence, and gaps between statutory services and trusted community structures. The Community Connector study demonstrates how connectors build trust, facilitate communication, and support culturally aligned engagement with PEoLC. The Eastern European study identifies distinct barriers related to mobility, lack of awareness, language, and differing expectations of care. Across all strands, community-rooted approaches improved relevance, acceptability, and early engagement.

Conclusion Partnership-driven, culturally grounded strategies are essential for addressing inequities in PEoLC. Integrating community knowledge with professional practice strengthens trust, communication, and access.

Impact This combined work provides actionable insights for services and commissioners seeking to deliver equitable, culturally appropriate PEoLC across diverse UK communities.