Comment: One Chance to Get it Right: a new vision for the care of the dying
Bee Wee
pp 213-213
In July 2013, an independent review of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP), led by Baroness Neuberger, recommended that the LCP should be phased out within 12 months. This was immediately agreed by the government in England. The Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People was then formed, under my chairmanship, to develop a response. It included 21 national organisations, some with remit for England only, others UK-wide: statutory bodies responsible for healthcare commissioning and delivery, health- and social care regulation and professional regulation; royal colleges; the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; the National Institute for Health Research; and national charities. Our response, One Chance to Get it Right, has been published.
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Anticonvulsant prophylaxis in patients with brain neoplasms
Miriam Cappelli, Simone Piazza and Jonathan Koffman
pp 214-218
What is the evidence regarding anticonvulsant prophylaxis in people with brain neoplams? Miriam Cappelli, Simone Piazza and Jonathan Koffman present the results of a limited systematic literature review.
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A survey about patients transferred from a specialist palliative care unit to an acute hospital setting
Trisha Castanheira and Bethany Wright
pp 219-221
Do hospice patients benefit from transfers to the acute hospital? How do you achieve a balance between curative and palliative care? Trisha Castanheira and Bethany Wright present and discuss the results of a survey conducted at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice looking at patient transfers to the acute hospital.
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Case study masterclass 76: Difficulty managing seizures in a patient with bilateral subdural haematomas
James Cheaveau
pp 222-223
Clive is a 72-year-old man with a complex medical history. He has suffered from antiphospholipid syndrome from a young age. Due to this, he had both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and multiple pulmonary embolisms (PEs) when he was in his 40s, and was thus put on lifelong warfarin. Despite these health issues, Clive has always endeavoured to lead an active life. The DVT and PEs did not leave him with any lasting symptoms, so he was able to have a successful career as a businessman, of which he was proud.
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Case study masterclass 75 answers: Making decision regarding artificial hydration and nutrition in an older woman with advanced dementia
Michael Tapley and Ann Regan
pp 224-224
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EJPC Palliative Care Policy Development Award
Olga Usenko
pp 225-227
Olga Usenko, a Russian palliative care advocate, was unveiled as the winner of the inaugural EJPC Palliative Care Policy Development Award on 7 June 2014 at the 8th EAPC World Research Congress in Lleida, Spain, for her relentless efforts to improve palliative care and pain relief in her country. Here she describes the Russian palliative care landscape and the work of a group of people dedicated to improve it.
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How can you prove that you are delivering good care? Monitoring the quality of palliative care using quality indicators
Joachim Cohen and Kathleen Leemans
pp 228-231
Convincingly measuring the quality of care remains a challenge. How can palliative care professionals rise to it? Joachim Cohen and Kathleen Leemans embark on the quest for good quality indicators with the example of a set of indicators developed in Belgium.
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Motor neurone disease: what are the support needs of patients and carers?
Antke Hagena, Nicola Stananought, Marie Greene, Evelyn Asiam, Liz Pybus, Frances Carroll and Leslie Gelling
pp 232-235
People with motor neurone disease and their carers often have unmet support and information needs. At Saint Francis Hospice, Antke Hagena, Nicola Stananought, Marie Greene, Evelyn Asiam, Liz Pybus, Frances Carroll and Leslie Gelling tried to find out what these needs are in order to, in turn, improve care.
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How to conduct research in an independent hospice: practical tips and advice
Paul Perkins, Rebecca Day, Julie Hapeshi, Lorraine Dixon and Rudo Nyakuhwa
pp 236-239
Independent hospices can – and should aim to – participate in palliative care research, say Paul Perkins, Rebecca Day, Julie Hapeshi, Lorraine Dixon and Rudo Nyakuhwa, who give tips and advice based on their experience at Sue Ryder.
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Exploring meaning in end-of-life care practice
Malcolm Payne
pp 240-244
What is meaning in end-of-life care practice? How can you help patients and families find meaning? Malcolm Payne delves into this multifaceted topic, which is not limited to spirituality but also has physical, social and psychological aspects.
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A summary of the EAPC White Paper on core competencies for education in paediatric palliative care
Julia Downing, Julie Ling, Franca Benini, Sheila Payne and Danai Papadatou
pp 245-249
What competencies do you need to work in paediatric palliative care? Julia Downing, Julie Ling, Franca Benini, Sheila Payne and Danai Papadatou present an executive summary of a White Paper from the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC).
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Palliative care in Singapore: impacting a nation
Mervyn Koh, Angel Lee and Allyn Hum
pp 250-253
In Singapore, the palliative care movement started to gain acceptance about 30 years ago. Mervyn Koh, Angel Lee and Allyn Hum describe the history, current state and future challenges of palliative care in their country.
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A day in the life of Matías Najún, Palliative Care Team Leader in Argentina
Matías Najún
pp 254-256
The palliative care team is made up of many people doing different jobs. Meet them in this occasional series, in which the European Journal of Palliative Care invites those involved in palliative care to describe their typical day. Here we hear from Matías Najún, who works in four different care settings in Buenos Aires, including the Hospital Universitario Austral (Austral University Hospital) and the Hospice Buen Samaritano (Good Samaritan Hospice).
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EAPC Early Researcher Award 2014 - reflections on winning
Lieve Van den Block, Daisy Janssen and Ollie Minton
pp 257-259
The 2014 Early Researcher Award of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) was presented earlier this year at the 8th EAPC World Research Congress in Lleida, Spain. Here, the winners, Lieve Van den Block, Daisy Janssen and Ollie Minton, summarise their trajectories and share their feelings on winning.
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