Palliative care guidance (FOI)

​Request

Could Health and Community Services Department provided a copy of any and all guidance / advice notes etc issued to doctors and nurses who deal with palliative care and end of life care

If the guidance has been refreshed or updated can I have the latest version and also any of the above that were in place in 2018. if the current versions etc are published please identify where.

Response

The current ratified policies are as follows:

Palliative Care Anticipatory Prescribing Policy. Dated December 2017 (in place 2018) due for review Dec 2020.

This policy covers access to essential medicines for symptoms control at the end of life in the patient’s usual residence. It is published on the Health and Community Services Intranet.

Adult Palliative and Supportive Care: Ambulatory Syringe Pump Policy including Symptom Management Guidelines: March 2016 (in place 2018)

This policy was produced to assist professionals administering drugs via an ambulatory syringe pump, and to promote a procedural uniformity amongst those professionals working in the hospital, hospice or community setting. It is published on the Health and Community Services Intranet.

Palliative Care Adult Network Guidelines (for pain and symptom management). Adopted 26th June 2017 (in place 2018)

These Guidelines represent a general reflection of current local practice in palliative care to be used in conjunction with the British National Formulary, the Palliative Care Formulary, The Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine, The Oxford Handbook of Palliative Care and other comprehensive texts. Although aimed at non-specialist doctors and nurses some of the material is more suitable for those with a specialist interest.

Personalised Care Record Policy for Dying Adults in the Expected Last Days of Life. January 2020 (not in place in 2018)

This guideline relates to all adult patients aged over 18 years who have been recognised to be in the last days of life (GSF red) to ensure that they have their care guided by the five priorities for the care of the dying patient.