Continuity in Palliative Care

Provides the practical information needed by primary care teams as they care for what is likely to be an increasing number of patients and their carers, faced with life-threatening disease and difficult treatment choices. This book examines multi-faceted issues involved in the need for continuity of care, explores various forms of continuity.

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The challenge of providing continuity of care in an increasingly complex and technological health service is likely to continue to be problematic. "Continuity in Palliative Care" provides the practical information needed by primary care teams as they care for what is likely to be an increasing number of patients and their carers, faced with life-threatening disease and difficult treatment choices. "Continuity in Palliative Care" examines in a logical and ordered way the multi-faceted issues involved in the need for continuity of care, explores various forms of continuity and suggests a dynamic model of continuity. Importantly, it looks at the areas involved in achieving continuity in palliative care - from the perspective of patients, their carers and healthcare professionals. Continuity of care issues are highlighted across primary and secondary care, across hospital and hospice care, for patients and their carers with cancer and non-cancer palliative care, and for older people, in the light of both new and well-established models of service delivery.
Given the importance to the delivery of care of organisational boundaries, the relationship between continuity of care and cross-boundary issues facing primary care trusts is also highlighted. In addition, the book offers thoughtful contributions on some wider aspects of palliative care, particularly communication, by including chapters on patient-held records and IT systems. Understanding the issues in palliative care that face primary care teams is an important concept in preparing for future challenges in the NHS and this book clearly, concisely and very readably summarises the story.