Palliative Adult Network Guidelines (Fourth Edition)

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The following resources may be used to determine if a patient is nearing the end of life, and give recommendations of how treatment should be tailored to their specific requirements. Never before has aging been such an important topic. The systems that we have put in place to manage our mortality are manifestly failing; but, as Gawande reveals, it doesn’t have to be this way. The ultimate goal, after all, is not a good death, but a good life – all the way to the very end. Palliative Care Guidelinesdeveloped by a collaboration of UK Cancer networks, and the Welsh Palliative Care Implementation Group

What to expect when someone important to you is dying A guide for carers, families and friends of dying people Told through a series of beautifully crafted stories taken from nearly four decades of clinical practice, her book answers the most intimate questions about the process of dying with touching honesty and humanity. She makes a compelling case for the therapeutic power of approaching death not with trepidation but with openness, clarity and understanding. As end of life care tends to involve a lot of healthcare professionals, good communication is essential. It ensures that everyone is aware of the patient’s wishes and preferences, and can act accordingly. pro-active quality care, and allows healthcare professionals to focus on better meeting patients’ needs. It has been developed in partnership with Marie Curieand the Clinical Innovation and Research Centre.For most of human history, death was a common, ever-present possibility. It didn’t matter whether you were five or fifty – every day was a roll of the dice. But now, as medical advances push the boundaries of survival further each year, we have become increasingly detached from the reality of being mortal. So here is a book about the modern experience of mortality – about what it’s like to get old and die, how medicine has changed this and how it hasn’t, where our ideas about death have gone wrong. With his trademark mix of perceptiveness and sensitivity, Atul Gawande outlines a story that crosses the globe, as he examines his experiences as a surgeon and those of his patients and family, and learns to accept the limits of what he can do. Macmillan LearnZone a variety of free learning resources, online courses and professional development tools Top Tips Communication skills for GPs (330 KB PDF) - Communication skills are crucial for effective care planning and avoiding complaints at the end of life RCGP Personalised Care Planning (185 KB PDF) - The general principles for palliative and end of life care Rachel’s training was put to the test in 2017 when her beloved GP father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She learned that nothing – even the best palliative care – can sugar-coat the pain of losing someone you love.

Dorothy House provides free nursing and medical care, as well as emotional, spiritual and practical support. 80% of our care is undertaken in the community – in a patient’s or family member’s home, a care or nursing home, in GP surgeries and various community venues. We support the person with the palliative condition, their family members (adult and children), and bereaved people. Our services include support groups, exercise programmes, art therapy, complementary therapy, social work, counselling and spiritual support. Our Nurse Specialists are a significant part of the patient’s care team. They help to manage pain and other distressing symptoms, work with the patient to create an Advance Care Plan, and they will offer emotional, spiritual and psychological support. VBA, very brief advice framework for GPs to provide a consistent and compassionate response to grieving patients - Scotland (532 KB, PDF)Current legislation promotes frequent detailed communication between healthcare professionals and patients, their families and others. These tools may be used to communicate with your patients and their support network. With the demise of the Liverpool Care Pathway, there has been much activity and collaborative working between groups involved with end of life care. Current national reports and legal guidelines for healthcare professionals to follow when caring for a Following the phasing out of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) in 2014, new guidance for approaching a dying person was issued by the Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People. The current guidelines make the dying person the focus of care in the

A Different Ending end of life care review published by the Care Quality Commission examining inequalities in care, particularly with certain groups

Audit

The following resources provide best practice guidance for clinical treatment of a patient nearing the end of life. At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade’s training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, the next he was a patient struggling to live.