What’s New?

The events page is regularly updated with training, lectures and conferences, many of which are open to patients and carers as well as healthcare professionals. Please check the events page for updated listings.

The National End of Life Care Programme website had an informative News section detailing recent events, information and documentation relating to end of life care.

NICE end of life care for adults quality standard

NICE quality standards are a set of specific, succinct statements and measures that describe aspirational but achievable care for adult patients across the NHS in England.

This end of life care quality standard includes 16 statements for the care of adults with advanced, progressive, or incurable conditions who are approaching the end of their life and are expected to die within the next 12 months.

The end of life definition also includes adults with existing conditions who are at risk of dying from a sudden, acute crisis in their condition, or those with life-threatening acute conditions caused by sudden catastrophic events. The standard also covers support for the families and carers of such people.

A new section of the website Healthtalkonline, Caring for someone with a terminal illness, has been launched. This resource includes video and audio clips of 40 carers who describe the unique combination of hard physical work, exhaustion, conflicting emotions and the rewards of caring for a loved one. Topics covered include:

• Coming to terms with a terminal prognosis
• Helping with personal care
• Seeking help with care
• The impact of being a carer
• Planning for deterioration and death

NHS Yorkshire Cancer Network has developed a leaflet called Financial Entitlements for Cancer Patients and Carers.  It helps to identify organisations and charities locally who may be able to help you and your family cope with the unexpected cost of your illness.

SCIE have developed a new website hub providing information and ideas for social care professionals who work with people at the end of their lives, and their families. It will also be of interest to medical colleagues who work with them.

Alzheimer Scotland have developed a website and DVD called Essential conversations …talking about death and dying.  It acts as an ‘emotional resource’ for staff, helping them to enhance their skills and confidence in supporting people with dementia and their families.

Carers UK have produced a new guide which advises what rights carers have and how they can get financial help, practical help and help with combining work and caring.  It is called Looking after someone: a guide to carers' rights and benefits 2011/12 and can be downloaded free from their website.