References
The Liverpool Care Pathway: a tool for paramedics?
Abstract
This short review examines the implementation of the Liverpool Care Pathway in health care settings and asks whether it would be suitable for paramedics to use in the bid to improve end of life care in the UK. Improvement of end of life care is now a government agenda and subsequently greater attention is being given to it. Currently, very few people achieve a death they would have wished for. Many would prefer to die at home, however, only 18% of deaths do occur at home. The knowledge and implementation of the Liverpool Care Pathway into paramedic practice could help improve end of life care and reduce unnecessary transfers of patients to emergency departments.
Every year, approximately 500 000 people die in England, of whom almost two thirds are over 75 years old (Department of Health (DH), 2008). Given the opportunity and proper support, many people would prefer to die at home (DH, 2008). However, in the UK only approximately 18% do occur at home, with the majority of deaths occurring in NHS hospitals (DH, 2008). Although some people die as they would have wished, many do not. Many experience unnecessary pain and are treated without dignity and respect and their death is not how they would have wanted it (DH, 2008). From my experience, I believe paramedics can improve end of life care, have a huge role to play in end of life care and knowledge of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) can help do this.
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