• Natalie Elizabeth Anderson, Jackie Robinson, Hetty Goodwin, and Merryn Gott.
• Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
• Palliat Med. 2022 Oct 1; 36 (9): 1389-1395.

BackgroundIn the context of a sudden or unexpected event, people with a life-limiting illness and their family caregivers may be dependent on emergency ambulance services.AimTo explore bereaved family members' experiences of emergency ambulance care at the end of life.DesignA qualitative study using reflexive thematic analysis of data collected from semi-structured phone interviews.Setting/ParticipantsA purposive sample of 38 family caregivers identified from a database of deaths in Aotearoa, New Zealand.ResultsEmergency ambulance personnel assist, inform and reassure patients and family caregivers managing distressing symptoms, falls, infections, unexpected events and death itself. Family members and patients are aware of the pressure on emergency services and sometimes hesitate to call an ambulance. Associating ambulances with unwanted transport to hospital is also a source of reluctance.ConclusionsThe generalist palliative care provided by emergency ambulance personnel is a vital service for patients in the last year of life, and their caregivers. This must be acknowledged in palliative care policy and supported with training, specialist consultation and adequate resources.

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