Resources
Please see below for links to some useful resources you may find helpful when looking after palliative care patients.
Identification
As health professionals it can sometimes be difficult to recognise those patients who might be approaching the end stages of their illness.
Identification can help to guide conversations and clinical decision making. Within North Lincolnshire, we would encourage professionals to use the
Assessment
There are some useful holistic assessment tools that are available and in use at Lindsey Lodge Hospice.
Clinical Management
Below are sample links to resources that may be useful in clinical management.
Symptom Management Guidelines
The Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines are supported by clinicians in the Humber and North Yorkshire ICB, however, clinicians should consider seeking local palliative care advice where local application of this guidance is not appropriate.
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust Anticipatory Drug Prescribing for End of Life Care Policy can be found on their hub.
To aid management of Parkinson’s Disease medication at the end of life, OPTIMAL calculator is useful for conversation of medication for those who can no longer swallow
Opioid Conversion
There are a number of opioid conversion charts freely available on the internet from reputable sources and within the Palliative Care Formulary
Clinical judgement is required when converting from one opioid drug to another, taking into consideration a number of factors. Please seek specialist advice if you require further support.