This thought-provoking symposium explored some of the issues related to the provision of palliative care within hospital settings. Session one focused on difficult symptoms – neuropathic pain, dyspnoea and malignant bone pain – and the new techniques and science that inform their management. The theme of delivering targeted, individual care was developed through the sessions, and the challenges of providing equitable, effective care were repeatedly highlighted. Importantly, there is a need to combine current, developing research and clinical knowledge to provide high-quality, individual symptom management.
