Increasing evidence demonstrates the benefits of early end-of-life care discussions with patients with life-threatening illness and their families. However, these conversations often do not occur. This review explores some of the many barriers faced by clinicians in relation to end-of-life care discussions, including prognostic uncertainty, fear of causing distress, navigating patient readiness and feeling unprepared for these conversations. The value of core clinical communication skills, potential strategies for improvement and areas for future research are also discussed. It is essential that clinicians offer patients facing life-threatening illness, and those close to them, the opportunity to discuss end-of-life issues in line with their information and decision-making preferences. With a growing and ageing global population, supporting both generalist and specialist providers of palliative care in this task is key. With careful preparation, fears of undertaking these discussions should not be a barrier to initiating them. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
Discover how Leeds Teaching Hospitals provided a tailored approach to training, in the final of a suite of case studies focused on enhancing end-of-life care.
In addition to trust-wide training opportunities, the palliative care and end-of-life care specialists offered bespoke departmental teaching and focused interventions to improve care within specific clinical areas.
A CPD article improved Anne O’Reilly’s knowledge of palliative and end of life care for people living with dementia in care homes. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
In August 2016, recommendation 1.1.12 was deleted and a link added to NICE’s guideline on controlled drugs: safe use and management, which has newer advice on the topic. Two out of date research recommendations have also been deleted.
Most people say they do not want to die in hospital, but most people do die there. Where wishes are recorded, care is usually better. The preference was not thought to have been recorded for over 80% of people towards the end of life, in this study.
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NHS Employers has produced a short video featuring Salford Royal Foundation Trust and its collaborative approach to delivering end-of-life care training to providers across the region.
Rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission for its end-of-life care services, the hospital excels in facilitating shared learning and reciprocal training with other hospitals, care homes, primary care and the private sector.