Using the Liverpool Care Pathway for a dying patient.
This article describes the experience of staff in one acute hospital in Northern Ireland who adapted the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) for the dying patient to suit their organisation. It focuses on one patient's journey, from diagnosis to terminal care. The patient remained on the care pathway for 12 days. This reflection demonstrates that, as long as patients continue to meet the criteria for the LCP, some may be on the care pathway for more than the recognised average of two days.
McNicholl
Mary P
MP
Altnagelvin Hospitals Trust, Londonderry. mpmcnicholl@alt.n-i.nhs.uk
Dunne
Kathleen
K
Garvey
Angela
A
Sharkey
Rose
R
Bradley
Amanda
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D009660:Northern Ireland; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009731:Nursing Audit; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009737:Nursing Records; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D018579:Patient Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011367:Professional Staff Committees / Q000458:organization & administration; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013997:Time Factors