Palliative care has been defined as the care of patients with advanced progressive disease for whom the focus is quality of life world health organization 1990 it is sometimes complex often challenging and always demanding and although it is often assumed to be synonymous with hospice care many patients in acute hospitals require . Palliative cancer care in acute nursing hogg george christie paul many cancer patients are seen in outpatient clinics general medical wards and general and specialist surgical wards as well as oncology units there patients can have varied palliative care needs and it is the responsibility of those nursing them to be aware of these needs . Palliative cancer care in acute nursing hogg george bn christie paul many cancer patients are seen in outpatient clinics general medical wards and general and specialist surgical wards as well as oncology units there patients can have varied palliative care needs and it is the responsibility of those nursing them to be aware of these . Primary palliative nursing primary palliative nursing includes the management of pain other symptoms and treatment adverse effects communicating patient family expectations throughout disease trajectory and assessing patient family values needs and coping abilities 4 primary palliative nurses eg cancer nurses also support patients families at the end of life and into bereavement 5 the complexities of covid 19 have underscored the importance of cancer nurses assuming their role as