News Room

Welcome to the News Room.

Access our latest news by clicking on the links below.

For all press and media enquiries contact Sam Turner on 020 7697 1520.

Latest News

Press Release

The National Council for Palliative Care and the Dying Matters Coalition respond to the publication of the End of Life Care Strategy Second Annual Report.

Good progress, but a lot more to do...
A great deal has already been achieved, but there remains much more to do. This is the message of the second annual report on the End of Life Care Strategy, published this week. Progress has been made both nationally and regionally across a range of areas, but the report emphasises the importance of improving end of life care in an increasingly challenging economic climate.

Continued...

Publication

Experiences of people with neurological conditions in hospital

NCPC’s Neurological Conditions Group carried out a survey of the experiences of people with neurological conditions admitted to hospital. Although the study involved a small sample size, the data received indicated that nearly two thirds of respondents were not asked whether they had an advance care plan or ADRT during their stay in hospital. Other concerns relating to a perceived lack of communication, dignity and understanding of the condition the person had, were reported.

A summary of the results and the group’s recommendations can be downloaded here.

Publication

Getting started
Involving People with Personal Experience

This document is a brief, introductory guide to user involvement in end of life care. It aims to show why it's important to involve people, potential benefits and how to get started. It is based on learning from NCPC's user involvement project 2007-2010.

Click here to buy.

Publication

Small is Beautiful
Involving People with Personal Experience

We know that the big things like funding and training need to be addressed to ensure that everyone receives good care at the end of their life, but we’re told time and again that it’s the small things that make a difference. We don’t have to change the world to provide responsive care – we can change things here and now in the small, thoughtful ways. This document explores ways of doing this.

Click here to download.

Publication

MDS Full Report for the year 2008/09

NCPC has now published its National Survey of Patient Activity Data for Specialist Palliative Care Services - MDS Full Report for the year 2008-09. This is the full report for the year 2008 - 2009 and contains vital statistics from services across the UK. This is the 14^th report from NCPC, since the introduction of the Minimum Data Sets Project in 1995.

Click here to buy.

Publication

Specialist Palliative Care Workforce Survey 2008/09 – National Summary

This briefing provides an overview of the picture of the specialist palliative care workforce across England in 2008/9. We have included in the briefing some data from the workforce surveys undertaken in 2005 and 2007 to illustrate national trends. The End of Life Care Strategy for England identified workforce development as one of the essential factors to the future success of the Strategy’s implementation. This briefing provides a useful overview of some of the particular aspects needing further attention.

Click here to buy.

DVD

Can you see me?

NCPC, in conjunction with Anchor, Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK, National Care Forum, St Christopher’s Hospice and Dying Matters have published a document identifying key priority areas for dementia within the DH’s quality markers for end of life care. The work was produced by NCPC’s Dementia Group and signposts to other resources which might help to meet each priority.

Click here to buy.

Publication

Joint guide to using quality markers to join up dementia and end of life strategies

NCPC, in conjunction with Anchor, Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK, National Care Forum, St Christopher’s Hospice and Dying Matters have published a document identifying key priority areas for dementia within the DH’s quality markers for end of life care. The work was produced by NCPC’s Dementia Group and signposts to other resources which might help to meet each priority.

Click here to download.

GENERAL ELECTION 2010

End of Life Care Manifesto 2010

NCPC published our End of Life Care Manifesto for the general election last year. We identified 5 key actions that need to be taken in the next parliament to develop palliative and end of life care for all who need it, and we have called on politicians in all political parties to support them.

To read the article in full click here.

COMMENT: Personalisation

A comment piece written by NCPC has been recently published in the International Journal for Palliative Nursing (Jan 2010 edition). In it, we discuss the implications of personalisation of health and social care services for those approaching the end of life. We argue that only properly joined up services and a well-trained workforce can ensure that the exciting developments in the personalisation of public services can benefit those at the end of life.

To read the article in full click here. 551KB

PRESS RELEASE: NCPC launches its End of Life Care Manifesto

Decisive action essential to prevent future crisis in care for dying people

Without continuing radical change in the way Britain cares for dying people, increasing numbers of older people are likely to die in a distressing manner without good care in a place that they don’t want to be. This warning came as the National Council for Palliative Care launched its End of Life Care Manifesto for the general election.

Download. 606KB

PRESS RELEASE: Response to the Green Paper on the future of social care

NCPC has submitted its response to the Green Paper which was prepared using feedback from members of our policy groups and user involvement group.

Read more.

New Publication

End of life care for people with dementia

Joint publication with Marie Curie Cancer Care, NHS Haringey, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust, Haringey Council and For Dementia.

Click here for details and to download.

Autumn Publications Sale

There’s an autumn sale on all NCPC publications, with 25% off every title. If you’re an NCPC subscriber this is in addition to your standard 50% discount. You must place your order before 30/11/09 to take advantage of the sale prices. Click here to order your publications now.

PRESS RELEASE: The Liverpool Care Pathway

The National Council for Palliative Care comments in response to recent media coverage of the Liverpool Care Pathway.

The press release can be read here.

Flu Pandemic Update

Where to find appropriate information and be as prepared as possible to cope with the situation in your area.

The update can be read here.

PRESS RELEASE: Response to the End of Life Care Strategy – One Year On

NCPC welcomes a positive first year in implementing the End of Life Care Strategy as ‘good work in progress’.

We consider that linking the Strategy to the implementation of the Darzi NHS Review has raised the profile and importance of end of life care. The issue is becoming mainstream but Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) must have plans for continued investment and quality improvement.

The press release can be read here.

New regulations on mixing of medicines in syringe drivers

The Medicines And Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have published the outcome of the consultation on proposals to regularise the position of those involved in the mixing of medicines, including in palliative care. They have also included a summary of the Commission on Human Medicines' consideration of the proposals and recommendations since they extend to other clinical areas where mixing of medicines is undertaken and is established practice. The Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England endorse the CHM's recommendations, which will help to support clinical care. Ministers have accepted these recommendations and agreed to amend medicines legislation accordingly. MHRA plan to implement the changes later this year.

A statement from the MHRA can be read here.

The outcome can be read here.

Please visit the MHRA’s website at http://www.mhra.gov.uk/ for more information.

Doctors and the General Public: Opinions on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Two-thirds of UK doctors are opposed to the legalisation of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, according to research published this week in Palliative Medicine and commissioned by NCPC together with a group of other charities with an interest in palliative and end of life care.

Press Briefing. 29KB
Background Briefing. 49KB

New Summary: A Fresh Approach: Palliative and end of life care for people with Chronic Respiratory Disease.

Click here for full details.

The NCPC response to the first national dementia strategy Living Well with Dementia.

Click here for full details.

Care to Learn - The NCPC End of Life Care Training Programme Resource Pack

NCPC has launched a major new training initiative: Care to Learn - The NCPC End of Life Care Training Programme Evidence shows that delivering good end of life care can help you increase staff retention and job satisfaction as well as meet your regulatory requirements. Our training programme is a pack designed to be delivered in the workplace, in a flexible and practical format that fits your staff and organisational needs. This is a very cost-effective way of providing in-house training to introduce staff to end of life care without having to leave the workplace.

Click here for full details.

Multiple Conditions: Multiple Challenges

New NCPC publication on comorbidities. Click here for full details.

NHS End of Life Care Programme and NCPC guidelines on Advance Decisions to Refuse Treatment

Click here for full details.