The Care of dying adults in the last days of life clinical and evidence-based guideline, commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), developed by the National Clinical Guideline Centre (NCGC), and hosted by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), has been published today (16 December 2015). This new NHS guideline sets out how to give people the best possible care as they reach the end of their lives.
The main recommendations relate to the following key areas:
- recognising when a person may be in the last days of their life
- communication with the patient
- shared decision-making
- maintaining hydration
- pharmacological interventions
- anticipatory prescribing for symptom control.
The evidence review and full recommendations can be found here: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG31