End of Life care 'shortage'
Discussion
This is a rather worrying story as it has the potential to really affect all of us in some great way.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20948340
It has been a long time since Palliative care and more general end of life care has come under such scrutiny or such change and it is sad to read that so many who need these services don't get what the service they really should.
In part quoting the article;
Dr David Brooks, vice-president of the Association of Palliative Medicine, said: "There is a shortfall in services that needs to be addressed. Palliative care has the ability to save the NHS money and improve the care of patients."
Well in my experience, that is certainly correct, as well as offering all those around the patient a chance be something other than a miserable passenger in the death of a loved one. This is a very difficult and emotive subject and one where a great deal of care needs to be taken to make sure that patients get what they need. With the impending changes to the way the PCT's fund hospices, in effect, the way they operate in the marketplace is changing - and for those involved in their operation, a very worrying time.
As for the second part of this article on the 'misuse' of the LCP, well, it will be interesting to see how long an independent process takes to come to any conclusions, but in the mean time, I sincerely hope that... Dr Brooks said the profession was keen to find out what had gone wrong, but he said the controversy and wait for the review had created a "bit of paralysis".
"It is important we get this right and tackle what was happening, but there is a little frustration it is taking some time." ... the paralysis doesn't filter down to consultant/patient level on the day that someone really needs more than Morphine.
This last part makes me grind my teeth ..
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "People should receive the very best care possible, right up until the end of their lives.
"We have committed to developing a per-patient funding system for palliative care and our pilots are now under way, with plans to have the new system in place in 2015.
"In 2011, the independent Palliative Care Funding Review report identified a gap between need and provision of palliative care.
"We have already developed and started implementing an End of Life Care Strategy, which aims to raise awareness and standards of end of life care for all those who need it, whatever their condition and wherever they are being cared for.
"Commissioners need to be clear about what their local needs are, and commission the right services to meet them."
Considering how much we rely on charity funding for Hospice care and the fact that a great many run on bequests, community fund raising and continual community commitment, it's very worrying to read that the per patient funding aspect of this could have real impact upon those patients being taken by hospices.
IMO, any change to hospice provision that caps those patients who would benefit, but are not allowed to go because of budgetary constraints needs to be ring fenced and thrown out. No doubt we will see in the fullness of time what the real effects of these changes are, but this is a worrying aspect that must not be let slip under the radar.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20948340
It has been a long time since Palliative care and more general end of life care has come under such scrutiny or such change and it is sad to read that so many who need these services don't get what the service they really should.
In part quoting the article;
Dr David Brooks, vice-president of the Association of Palliative Medicine, said: "There is a shortfall in services that needs to be addressed. Palliative care has the ability to save the NHS money and improve the care of patients."
Well in my experience, that is certainly correct, as well as offering all those around the patient a chance be something other than a miserable passenger in the death of a loved one. This is a very difficult and emotive subject and one where a great deal of care needs to be taken to make sure that patients get what they need. With the impending changes to the way the PCT's fund hospices, in effect, the way they operate in the marketplace is changing - and for those involved in their operation, a very worrying time.
As for the second part of this article on the 'misuse' of the LCP, well, it will be interesting to see how long an independent process takes to come to any conclusions, but in the mean time, I sincerely hope that... Dr Brooks said the profession was keen to find out what had gone wrong, but he said the controversy and wait for the review had created a "bit of paralysis".
"It is important we get this right and tackle what was happening, but there is a little frustration it is taking some time." ... the paralysis doesn't filter down to consultant/patient level on the day that someone really needs more than Morphine.
This last part makes me grind my teeth ..
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "People should receive the very best care possible, right up until the end of their lives.
"We have committed to developing a per-patient funding system for palliative care and our pilots are now under way, with plans to have the new system in place in 2015.
"In 2011, the independent Palliative Care Funding Review report identified a gap between need and provision of palliative care.
"We have already developed and started implementing an End of Life Care Strategy, which aims to raise awareness and standards of end of life care for all those who need it, whatever their condition and wherever they are being cared for.
"Commissioners need to be clear about what their local needs are, and commission the right services to meet them."
Considering how much we rely on charity funding for Hospice care and the fact that a great many run on bequests, community fund raising and continual community commitment, it's very worrying to read that the per patient funding aspect of this could have real impact upon those patients being taken by hospices.
IMO, any change to hospice provision that caps those patients who would benefit, but are not allowed to go because of budgetary constraints needs to be ring fenced and thrown out. No doubt we will see in the fullness of time what the real effects of these changes are, but this is a worrying aspect that must not be let slip under the radar.
"The LCP affirms the vision of transferring the model of excellence for care of the dying from hospice care into other healthcare settings. We have demonstrated a process that inspires, motivates and truly empowers the generic workforce in caring for the patient and their family in the last hours or days of life." Deborah Murphy, National Lead Nurse-LCP
Spock - Analysis please!
(PS Even though I have found out that LCP = Liverpool Care Pathway I'm none the wiser!)
Spock - Analysis please!
(PS Even though I have found out that LCP = Liverpool Care Pathway I'm none the wiser!)
Effectively, they are extolling the virtues of the application of the Liverpool Care Pathway and highlighting that, in their opinion, it helps not only the patient, but the family, staff, etc. They are also evidencing the fact that it can be transferred and applied to care environments other than Hospices, (Hospitals, Care Homes, own home), which it is anyway but perhaps under different equivalent names.
(Said with a Spock type hand gesture
)
(Said with a Spock type hand gesture
)Edited by oliverjthomas on Wednesday 9th January 13:32
plasticpig said:
Simple solution to this. Legalise assisted dying for the terminally ill. It's what I would choose in a situation where the morphine / oxycontin was no longer effective; and I certainly don't what to spend years doddering in dementia.
There isn't a situation when morphine ceases to become effective - you can drug someone to death with it quite effectively.Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff