Care of the Dying

• Provides guidelines for the care of the dying based on the Liverpool Integrated Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP).
• Edited by a top palliative care physician and Medical Director of the Marie Curie Centre (John Ellershaw), and a top researcher and nurse (Susie Wilkinson)
• Provides unique multi-professional guidelines to improve the care of patients during what can be a difficult time, even for the most experienced palliative care professional

New to this edition

• Updated chapters on symptom control, ethical issues, communication skills, bereavement and spiritual care written by experts in the field which underpin the use of the LCP

Readership: This book will be of interest to all healthcare professionals involved in care of the dying patient. It will also help trusts and organisations that want to develop demonstrable measures and outcomes of care.

Edited by John Ellershaw, Professor of Palliative Medicine, University of Liverpool and Director of the Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute, Liverpool, UK, and Susie Wilkinson, Head of Palliative Care Research, Marie Curie Palliative Care Research & Development Unit, Royal Free & University College Medical School, London, UK

John Ellershaw is professor of palliative medicine at the University of Liverpool and director of Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute. He is also national deputy clinical director for end of life care.

Review(s) from previous edition

"This is a book that should be widely read. As its title suggests, it provides the tools to make the sort of changes that make a difference. It would be of value to most hospital doctors, general practitioners in the UK and contains much interest for Europe and North America GPs and is packed with useful information . . . I would highly recommend this book to all those professionals involved in looking after dying patients. - European Journal of Cancer Care, 13

"This book deserves to be widely read and will hopefully lead to the more widespread use of the Pathway, or locally adapted versions of it, both within and without specialist palliative care units." - IAHPC Website

John Ellershaw: Introduction
1: Kris Vanhaecht, Massimiliano Panella, Ruben van Zelm and Walter Sermeus: What about Care Pathways?
2: John Ellershaw and Deborah Murphy: What is the Liverpool Care Pathway for the dying patient (LCP)?
3: Paul Glare, Andrew Dickman and Margaret Goodman: Symptom control in care of the dying: how can the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) influence symptom control?, How do you manage nausea and vomiting in the dying patient? and Comfort measures in the last hours or days of life
4: Andrew Thorns and Eve Garrard: Ethical issues in care of the dying
5: Susie Wilkinson: Communication in care of the dying
6: Peter Speck: Spiritual/religious issues in care of the dying
7: Carole Mula: Supporting family and friends as death approaches and afterwards
8: Barbara Monroe: Supporting children as death approaches and afterwards
9: Maureen Gambles, Anita Roberts and Rita Doyle: Induction and implementation of the Liverpool Care Pathway for the dying patient (LCP)
10: Deborah Murphy and Tamsin McGlinchey: Dissemination and sustainability strategy for the LCP programme - incorporating a model for national audit for care of the dying
11: Ruthmarijke Smeding, Maria Bolger, and John Ellershaw: International development of the LCP
Appendix 1 - The Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP) Core Documentation
Appendix 2 - Ongoing assessment of the plan of care
Appendix 3 - Completed pathway
Appendix 4 - Coping with dying leaflet