Website: Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP)
LCP was developed for use in hospitals but can be used in other care settings. The specialist palliative care teams lead the training for LCP. Once implemented the LCP empowers generalists to care for the dying and can be transferred to non-cancer patients.
It is estimated that 22 of the 34 cancer networks in England are using the LCP in at least one area. The LCP Programme is also running across the U.K.
The LCP Central Team has supported this national rollout by providing an education programme aimed at promoting the implementation and sustained use of the LCP in primary and secondary care settings. In so doing the project has provided a national infrastructure of education and evaluation services ensuring consistency and quality of service across all care settings.
The key methodology used for this national infrastructure is based on a robust 10 Step implementation programme together with a comprehensive research and evaluation programme. This supports clinically based educational programmes, sustaining interest in the clinical workforce and attention to cultural organisational changes to ensure achievement of objectives and outcomes.
The LCP central Team is committed to working with and supporting clinical leads, service improvement leads, service improvement facilitators, clinical multidisciplinary teams and other national organisations to implement the LCP framework.
| Tel: | 0151 706 2273/2274 | |
| Email: | lcpenquiries@rlbuht.nhs.uk |
Over the past few years a major drive has been underway to ensure that all dying patients, and their relatives and carers receive a high standard of care in the last days and hours of their lives.
(Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute, September 2007 [File:33KB])
The Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP) provides an evidence based framework for the delivery of appropriate care for dying patients and their relatives in a variety of care settings. It encourages a multi-professional approach to the delivery of care that focuses on the physical, psychological and spiritual comfort of patients and their relatives that has also been shown to empower generic staff in the delivery of care. End of Life care academic initiatives should be encouraged to bring research, educational and academic credibility to this area.
( Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute, Liverpool Care Pathway, 2007)
The National End of Life Care Programme has responded to recent publicity about the Liverpool Care Pathway with a two page leaflet outlining how the programme works and the widespread support it enjoys amongst senior clinicians.
(National End of Life Care Programme, October 2009 [File:27KB])
The Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) is an integrated pathway tool which can be used during the last 72 / 48 hours of life. It provides guidance on the different aspects of care required, including comfort measures, anticipatory prescribing and discontinuation of inappropriate interventions.
This Fact Sheet provides an introduction to the key elements involved.
(NHS National End of Life Care Programme, October 2009)
