The development of a standardised core documentation for palliative care was initiated in Germany in 1996. Results from previous evaluations have shown the wide variability of the documentation in participating units. A different documentation form was used in 2001 using free text entries to find out what problems palliative care specialists perceive in their patients. Fifty-five of the 83 palliative inpatient units in Germany (66% of the units) as well as one unit each from Austria and Switzerland, documented 1304 patients in the core documentation in 2001. Inpatient care was continued until death for 531 patients, 604 patients were discharged home and 169 patients were transferred to other places of care. Palliative care treatment effectively reduced mean physical symptom intensity. Mean intensities of psychological and social problems also were reduced although not as much as physical symptom load. Nursing problems were reduced for those patients discharged but not for those who died in the unit. Anxiety and depression were the most frequent psychological problems. Nursing problems were focussed on impairment of mobility and other activities of daily living such as washing, nutrition and drinking. Excessive distress on caregivers and the organisation of home care were the predominant social problems. In conclusion, this representative prospective survey with the majority of palliative care units in Germany showed the high effectiveness of symptom relief. Using the categories identified in this study, checklists were constructed and included in the documentation forms that are currently used for the core documentation project.