Care pathways under the spotlight

摘要

I mastered a tool in my workshop recently, and doing so felt really good. However, have to admit that it took over a year to achieve, much frustration, and a lot of self-discipline on my part. It certainly wasn't easy, but then neither is learning any skill that involves changing behaviour and integrating new thinking into practice. Such learning is required for using the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP). Of the three advance care planning (ACP) tools in the End of Life Care Strategy (Department of Health, 2008), the LCP has proved most controversial, because of its orientation toward the last few days of life.