Evidence suggests that the main reasons for people failing to achieve a home death are carer fatigue and inadequate provision or deployment of palliative care services. Planning the care of your patients who have been diagnosed with incurable cancer, including recording the patient's wishes about his/her end of life care can be assisted by the use of a mechanism such as the Gold Standards Framework.

Click here to visit the Gold Standards Framework website for further information (opens new window).

The management and needs of a dying patient can be supported by the use of the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (open new window).

Information about all aspects of palliative care, guidance on the management of pain and discussion documents on topics such as ethical issues at the end of life and psychosocial care of people with incurable cancer can be obtained from the National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services.

Click here to visit the National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services's website (open new window).