New guidance on end of life care launched

New guidance for doctors comes into effect on 1 July 2010.
Treatment and Care Towards the End of Life: Good Practice in Decision Making replaces the booklet Withholding and Withdrawing Life-prolonging Treatments (2002). It expands on the guidance in Consent: Patients and Doctors Making Decisions Together, which sets out the principles on which good clinical decisions should be based, and provides a framework for good practice when providing treatment and care for patients who are reaching the end of their lives.

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Help us help you to breathe more easily

Help shape plans to improve the health and wellbeing of people with COPD and asthma. The Department of Health is developing a national strategy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in England, working with the British Lung Foundation and Asthma UK. The strategy is due to be launched next year and is designed to help improve patients' health and well-being. The strategy covers better prevention and changing behaviour for those at risk, diagnosis and treatment, through to better care for people with COPD at the end of life. It will also highlight the similarities and differences between the diagnosis and care of COPD and asthma. The views, insight, and experiences of people with COPD and asthma and their carers are needed to ensure that the plans in the strategy meet their needs. The event is being held on 30th November 2009 at the Thorpe Park Hotel, Leeds. Click here to book your place.

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Delivering Effective End-Of-Life Care

Listen to the panel discussion and download presentations from the recent Kings Fund one-day conference on end-of-life care here.

DH End of Life Care Strategy Launched

The Government has published the End of Life Care Strategy - promoting high quality care for all adults at the end of life which is the first for the UK and covers adults in England. Its aim is to provide people approaching the end of life with more choice about where they would like to live and die. It encompasses all adults with advanced, progressive illness and care given in all settings. The strategy has been developed by an expert advisory board chaired by Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director, and including key stakeholders from statutory health, social care, third sector organisations, professional and academic organisations. The strategy has been informed and shaped by the work on end of life care undertaken by strategic health authorities for the NHS Next Stage Review. Access the strategy document and accompanying information here.

End of Life Care DVD

The National EoLC Programme has produced a new 10-minute DVD, narrated by ITN reporter Helen Wright, explaining the importance of good end of life care. Aimed at health and social care professionals, the DVD was released last month and is available by emailing information@eolc.nhs.uk. Read more about improving end of life care for adults.