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Consultant physicians working with patients - Royal College of ...

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2 Specialties Palliative medicine– explicit standards for interval between referraland first assessment consultants in palliative medicine providing:– early medical review <strong>with</strong> sufficient time forthorough review and dedicated administrativesupport– rapid links to other relevant disciplines– 24-hour medical advice for colleagues incommunity and hospital MDTs <strong>with</strong> core specialists in palliative medicine,nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy andsocial work evidence-based clinical management <strong>with</strong> efficientinformation technology (IT) systems, and access tomedical notes and results <strong>of</strong> investigations efficient and effective communication andcollaborative <strong>working</strong> relationships <strong>with</strong>in core andwider teams clinical audit and research programmes to evaluatetreatments and outcomes education and training programmes for continuingpr<strong>of</strong>essional development (CPD) <strong>of</strong> own staff andothers patient and family involvement in managementplans and discussions about preferred place <strong>of</strong> careand death support for carers and families through illness intobereavement.In addition, specialist inpatient palliative care unitsshould have: adequate number <strong>of</strong> dedicated beds adequate medical staffing at all grades, includingout-<strong>of</strong>-hours cover trained specialist palliative care nurses <strong>with</strong> highnurse:patient ratio (UK average: 1:1.5) appropriate equipment for care <strong>of</strong> weak, cachecticand debilitated <strong>patients</strong> – eg pressure-relievingmattresses, electrically operated beds and chairs,easily operated nurse-call systems and assistedbaths/showers space for private interviews/counselling sessions,prayer, reflection and faith rituals comfortable sitting area for <strong>patients</strong> and visitors,<strong>with</strong> self-catering/overnight facilities dedicated space for viewing the deceased person.Clinical facilities should be integrated whereverpossible. The physical proximity <strong>of</strong> inpatient, outpatientand community teams and day-care facilities promotesgood communication and efficient use <strong>of</strong> consultantexpertiseandtime.Whereaservicecoversawidegeographical area, outlying beds or day-care units maybe provided in community hospitals <strong>with</strong> support fromspecialist palliative care.In acute hospitals, there needs to be private space forconversations, comfortable seating for <strong>patients</strong> andfamilies, self-catering/overnight facilities and near-wardteaching facilities. Drugs should be administered anddispensed promptly to avoid long waits for weak<strong>patients</strong>. Adequate arrangements should be in place forrapid communication <strong>with</strong> the GP and communitynurses when a patient is discharged or dies.A national specialist palliative care peer-reviewedprocess is being tested at present. 9 A quality standardfor end-<strong>of</strong>-life care was published by the NationalInstitute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) inNovember 2011, consisting <strong>of</strong> 16 quality statementswhich collectively describe a high-quality end-<strong>of</strong>-lifecare service. 10Maintaining and improving the quality <strong>of</strong> careService developments to deliver improved careHigh-quality services need to be responsive to <strong>patients</strong>’needs, efficient in use <strong>of</strong> resources, collaborative inrelationships <strong>with</strong> other services and continuouslyvigilant in maintaining standards <strong>of</strong> care through audit,teaching and research. Service developments include: joint clinics/MDTs in oncology and heart failure,respiratory, renal and neurological medicine access to 24-hour health and social care for palliativecare crises leadership and strategic innovation <strong>with</strong>in localtrusts, including education, evaluation and research implementing end-<strong>of</strong>-life care and advance careplanning tools: integrated care pathways for thedying, Gold Standards Framework and PreferredPriorities for Care, or equivalent workforce planning.Education and trainingWork in this area includes: development <strong>of</strong> consensus syllabus forundergraduate palliative medicine 11 development <strong>of</strong> specialty curriculum, certificateexamination and assessment framework <strong>with</strong> the<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> Physicians (RCP) development <strong>of</strong> a report on pr<strong>of</strong>essionaldevelopment in end-<strong>of</strong>-life care for <strong>physicians</strong> 12C○ <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> Physicians 2013 191

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