End of life care training for paramedics in west Essex

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

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Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: Case Study

In a nutshell: A hospice run training programme in Romford on end of life care  for paramedics has resulted in a reduction in avoidable hospitalizations. The training sessions cover subjects such as just in case boxes, medication, syringe drivers, GSF, LCP, PPC and general trouble-shooting.  One outcome has been an improvement in partnership working within the community teams.  Additionally, a booklet containing examples of best practice and examples of end of life care scenarios has been produced and is now carried by all paramedics in Romford.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Acknowledgement: National End of Life Care Programme

Anticipatory care planning and integration: A primary care pilot study aimed at reducing unplanned hospitalization

Source: British Journal of General Practice, 2012, 62, (595) (e113-e120)

Date of publication: February 2012

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article reviews a pilot study in Scotland which aimed to provide anticipatory care plans (ACPs) for patients who were at risk of hospital admission. Patients’ wishes in the event of sudden deterioration in their health were recorded.  The pilot achieved statistically significant reductions in unplanned hospitalisation for patients with multiple morbidities and  demonstrates the potential for providing both better care as well as better value for health and social care services.

Length of publication: 8 pages

Some important notes:  Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgement: Embase

The role of health care assistants in supporting district nurses and family carers to deliver palliative care at home: findings from an evaluation project

Source: Journal of Clinical Nursing vol.20(13-14), p2043-2052

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Date: July 2011

Publication type: Article

Publication length: 10 pages

In a nutshell: This article examines the role of trained health and personal care assistants supporting district nurses and family carers in providing palliative and end of life care in the community. Findings from this study suggest that employing health care assistants under the supervision of district nurses appear to  support patients and families at home and contribute to good quality nursing care.

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Marie Curie’s multi-visit service for palliative care patients in Northern Ireland.

Source:European Journal of Palliative Care, 2011, 18(1), p.18-21

You can obtain a copy of this from your local NHS Library

Date of publication: February 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell:  This article examines the organisation and objectives of the interdisciplinary palliative care service through which district nurses and specially trained Marie Curie Cancer Care health care assistants provide care for patient’s in their own homes in Northern Ireland.  Results of a survey to measure satisfaction of district nurses and service users are discussed.

Length of publication: 3 pages.

Acknowledgement: BNI

End-of-life care: a community perspective

 Source:  Nursing in Practice, 2010, (57) p46-9

Date of publication: December 2010

Publication type:  Article

In a nutshell:  This article expores the issue of caring for children and adults at the end of life in their own homes from a community nursing perspective and makes recommendations about service provision.

Length of publication:  3 pages

Some important notes: This article is available in full text to all NHS Staff using Athens, for more information about accessing full text follow this link  to find your local NHS Library 

Acknowledgement:  BNI

District nurses’ role in palliative care provision: a realist review.

Source: International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2010, 47, (9), p. 1167-83

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Date of publication:  September 2010

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell:  The articles describes the findings of a literature review of the role of district nurses in providing terminal or end of life care for patients at home.  The nature of the care provided along with the circumstances that led to the care being provided by district nurses is examined.  The impact of the home context and the outcomes of care are also considered. Evidence from the review was used to address implicit assumptions to district nursing practice for palliative care patients.

Length of publication: 17 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

End of life care: supporting independent and healthy lives.

Source: British Journal of Community Nursing

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Follow this link to “Hospital Care at Home: Supporting Independent and Healthy Lives”

Date of publication: July 2010

Publication type: article

In a nutshell: This article comments on the findings of ‘Hospital Care at Home: Supporting Independent and Healthy Lives’ (Dr Foster Intelligence, 2010) in relation to end of life care.  Financial savings and outcomes of the end-of-life health care Family Liaison Service, introduced at Birmingham East and North in partnership with Healthcare at Home Ltd are reported. The full report uses the model developed at Birmingham to suggest potential savings at the national level if the methodology were applied nationally.

Length of publication: 1 page

Acknowledgement: BNI

Paediatric palliative home care by general paediatricians: a multimethod study

Source:  Biomed Central  2010, 9 (11)

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Date of publication: June, 2010

Publication type: article

In a nutshell:  This article focused on palliative care for children and adolescents and examines current practice in Germany where  it is common for specialist paediatricians to be based in a primary care setting.  The study examines barriers and incentives as well as the professional self-image of paediatricians involved in palliative care provision.  Key recommendations are made in relation to education, communication skills, local networks and on-call support are made. 

Length of publication: 30 pages

Acknowledgement:  Omega 

Teaching family carers about home-based palliative care: final results from a group education program.

Title:  Teaching family carers about home-based palliative care: final results from a group education program.

Source:  Journal of Pain & Symptom Management, 2009 38:2 p.299-308.

Follow this link for abstract. 

Date of publication: August 2009

Publication type: Journal article.

In a nutshell:  Initial pilots have shown that group education programs to prepare family carers in their role of supporting a relative with advanced, noncurative cancer at home can be readily developed and are beneficial.  This article reviews a project which built on the pilot research and further examined the effectiveness of the program by evaluating the outcomes with a larger number of participants. 

The study demonstrated that a group education program was effective and went on to outline the implications for further research and practice.

Length of publication: 10 pages. 

Some important notes: “Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library

GP and nurses’ perceptions of how after hours care for people receiving palliative care at home could be improved: a mixed methods study

Source: BMC Palliative Care 2009, 8:13  Follow this link for the full article

Date of Publication: 14 September 2009

Publication Type: Research article

In a nutshell: This study carried out in Australia investigates the gaps in care from the perspective of GPs and Palliative Care nurses. Questionnaires developed from an earlier phase of this project were distributed to staff in both urban and rural practices. Some of the gaps identified could only be met by long term funding and policy change. Education and training of Palliative Care professionals was identified as an area for improvement as was the development of advance care plans and greater communication between members of multidisciplinary teams to enhance after hours service provision for patients receiving palliative care at home.

Length of Publication: 29 pages

Lincolnshire Rapid Response Service expanded

Source: Marie Curie Delivering Choice News

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Date of publication: September 2009

Publication type: Webpage

In a nutshell:

Marie Curie Cancer Care Rapid Response Service which was successfully pilotted in the Boston and South Holland areas of the county has now been expanded to cover the whole of Lincolnshire as part of the Lincolnshire Delivering Choices Programme. The Rapid Response Team provides planned and urgent care visits to patients in their own homes during the out of hours period and 17 new jobs have been created as a result of the expansion. The aim of the service is to enhance patient choice and to accommodate double the previous number of patients choosing to be cared for and die at home.

Acknowledgement: Marie Curie website.

£2.5 million to allow patients the right to die at home

Source: The Sentinel

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Publication Type: News article

In a nutshell: End of Life Care in North Staffordshire is to be reformed after new figures show thousands of patients are unable to spend their final days at home. £2.5 million has been approved for EOLC improvements which are scheduled to begin Autumn 2009. A large-scale consultation of patients is planned for late August 2009 followed by the setting up of a 24/7 advice line.

End-of-life teams still not in place

Author: Graham Clews

Source: Nursing Times 21 July 2009 Vol 105(28) p3

In a nutshell: Fast-response nursing teams that would allow people to die in their own homes have yet to be rolled out despite them being named as a significant part of the Government’s EOLC strategy. The teams are based on an existing pilot run by Marie Curie Cancer Care in Lincolnshire. One year on, the pilot has been broadened to cover the whole of Lincolnshire however no other PCTs have commissioned similar schemes from the charity. Over the next 18 months, the NHS is set to receive £286m from the Government to implement the EOLC strategy with most of the funding at local level to PCTs. NCPC have reported they will ‘closely monitor’ the investment over the next 2 years ‘ to ensure it is being used effectively to develop local services’.

Publication type: Article

Contact your health library for a copy of this article

Changing NHS end of life care for the better

Author: Daloni Carlisle

Source: Health Service Journal  19th June 2009

In a nutshell: Most people say they would prefer to die at home but many do not as end of life care has traditionally been neglected. But it looks as if things are finally starting to change.

Click here to read the full article