The New Zealand medical journal
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To compare attendances of Maori with non-Maori palliative care patients at Emergency Departments (ED) and the outcome of their visits. ⋯ This study has helped quantify the characteristics of palliative care patients utilising ED in a relatively rural population with a high proportion of Maori. It has shown that a significant proportion of palliative care patients will attend ED, that men with palliative care needs are more likely to attend ED but Maori are not more likely to utilise the services. We believe that New Zealand hospitals should consider the role of their ED in the management of palliative care patients.