Palliative Care

The care of patients with advanced and terminal illness can be extremely rewarding but often causes professionals a considerable amount of discomfort. This is especially so when you feel under confident in your abilities to provide a high quality of symptom management and relief from distress and to communicate appropriately with patients. Patients with advanced disease present some of the most challenging ethical, physical, psychological and social issues to clinicians and indeed to society. Patients need us to be knowledgeable, skilful and understanding. The fully revised and updated new edition of Palliative Care outlines the fundamental principles and facts which will enable you to make a very real difference to your patients and their families. Information is provided in an accessible, user-friendly way and covers a wide range of physical and non-physical symptom management. Multi-professional team work is addressed, as is the role and support of families. There is also a consideration of the dilemmas and decisions that may be encountered by doctors around the end of a patient's life. This practical resource, designed to provoke contemplative professional development, and enhance learning will be essential reading for nursing and medical practitioners, and other professionals who support patients in their homes, in care homes, and in hospital. This Practical Resource, Designed To Provoke Contemplative Professional Development, And Enhance Learning Will Be Essential Reading For Nursing And Medical Practitioners, And Other Professionals Who Support Patients In Their Homes, In Care Homes, And In Hospital. Christina Faull, Consultant In Palliative Medicine, Loros, The Leicestershire And Rutland Hospice And The University Hospitals Of Leicester, Honorary Professor Of Palliative Medicine, Centre For Promotion Of Excellence In Palliative Care, De Montfort University, Leicester, And Kerry Blankley, Education Facilitator, Loros, The Leichestershire And Rutland Hospice, Honorary Lecturer, Centre For Promotion Of Excellence In Palliative Care, De Montfort Universty, Leicester. Previous Edition: 2002. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Preface 6 Acknowledgements 8 Contents 10 1 Palliative care: principles, challenges, and patient outcomes 12 2 Palliative care assessment, communication, and challenging situations 28 3 Psychosocial and spiritual components of care 44 4 Decisions and care around the end of life 64 5 Physical symptom control: how to do it well 90 6 The syringe driver: a useful way to deliver drugs 118 7 Regulations, legal duties, and financial support for patients 130 8 Core competences in palliative care 144 9 Further information about palliative care services and useful resources 154 Index 164 'Palliative Care' outlines the fundamental principles and facts which will enable practitioners to make a very real difference to their patients and their families.