Palliative Care under Debate

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The Patients Association Report 27/8/09 has opened up a wide debate about Palliative Care and End of Life Care.

First to comment were the eminent writers of a Telegraph Letter 3/9/09 who spoke out about Palliative Care being in Crisis. These Palliative Care Consultants and Specialists were highly critical of the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient.

17/10/09 Tom Hughes-Hallett, Chief Executive of the Marie Curie Institute, defends the LCP by saying that it is NOT the Liverpool Care Pathway that is wrong BUT that it is the training of NHS staff which was to blame!

Hot on his heels came Professor Mike Richards, Cancer Tsar and NHS/Government spokesperson. He said that training in Palliative Care and End of Life Care should be Mandatory! Well he's the boss - WHY WASN'T IT?

We had NO idea that any of the staff on the Palliative Care Ward of the NHS Northern General Hospital, Sheffield were NOT trained in caring for the dying. Now it has become clear why Thomas Milner, husband, father and grandfather had such 'low quality end of life care'. It clarifies why the other Case stories in the Patients Association Report 27/8/09 had such bad NHS care!

Read here - Patients Association Report

Read here - Palliative Care Specialists open up debate on End of Life Care

Read here - Chief Executive of Marie Curie Institute says LCP protects Dignity of the Dying.

Read here - Cancer Tsar says more training is needed in Palliative Care

Read Here - Care of terminally ill had already been under attack by M.P.'s PRIOR to the publication of the Patients Association Report!

Read here - News items on 'Palliation And Terminal Care'

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