Being a leader of change means challenging the status quo. This can be tough. People have a "status quo bias". Behavioural economists tell us the fear of what might be lost is twice as strong as the hope of what might be gained. The more we are invested in something, the harder

Electronic Palliative Care Coordination Systems to facilitate end-of life-care decision-making - Race Equality Foundation raceequalityfoundation.org.uk/blog/electroni…

🇮🇪 “The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland… promotes a considered and compassionate approach to caring for and proactively meeting needs, concerns and any sources of distress for patients who have a progressive or incurable illness.” oireachtas.ie/en/debates/deb… #palliativecare

Several people recently have advised me to ‘stay positive’ in the light of my terminal #cancer diagnosis. They mean well of course, but does ‘positivity’ help & should I feel bad when advice like this exasperates me? Working With Cancer 💙 workingwithcancer.co.uk/2023/10/24/can…

A privilege to be discussing pain at end of life in London Ambulance Service with Sandra Campbell(FRCN) from ScottishAmbulance at #pips2023

Suffering and pain can be interpreted in vastly different ways, even in very similar situations. Patients, families, & clinicians all bring our own perspectives about suffering, and some of the hospital’s toughest conversations happen when views differ. #hapc #graphicmedicine

Apparently this is an actual word and it means the patient is no longer febrile

Those of us who are experienced practitioners of conversations about dying rarely find that a #CPR discussion causes additional distress if it's properly embedded in a transparent & compassionate discussion about best treatment options, including discussion of dying.

Neither the 'flag' forms nor any #ACP documents, however, should be 'checklist prompts' for good anticipatory care planning conversations. Those fully-rounded conversations require careful listening, encouragement & support. No form filling - just listening.

Let's give patients & their treatment options the respect they deserve by insisting that these important conversations take place with the right supporters alongside the patient & with senior, experienced practioners (GPs, experienced nurses, senior trainee & consultant doctors).

Gabapentin increases risk of severe COPD exacerbations pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38224592/#:~:t….

Simple and effective: Improving malodour management in advanced cancer: a 10-year retrospective study of topical, oral and maintenance metronidazole spcare.bmj.com/content/7/3/286

Mirtazapine to alleviate severe breathlessness in patients with COPD or interstitial lung diseases (BETTER-B): an international, multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 mixed-method trial - The Lancet Respiratory Medicine thelancet.com/journals/lanre…

This MPs letter illustrates misunderstanding & fear of ordinary dying. All MPs should be required to attend detailed briefing on ordinary dying, pall care, the real but rare difficult deaths, & assessment of capacity, provided by non-campaigning experts. bbc.in/37m33eN

‘Passing’ 🙄 He’s dying, not taking an exam

I was one of many who recommended in written evidence that everyone requesting assisted dying should have - at minimum - a palliative care assessment. Lack of capacity is not a reassuring reason to reject this amendment. Palliative care can alleviate a wish for hastened death.

Capsaicin cream not available in UK until 2026- one of the most random drug supply issues I’ve encountered this year so far and there have been many!

Assisted dying would be provided by private companies to protect NHS waiting lists: exclusive from Lara Spirit and Chris Smyth thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/…

Calling all #paramedics interested in palliative and end-of-life care. Free webinar series making its way around the globe - UK tomorrow 4pm. College of Paramedics Registration: paliativnicentrum.cz/kurzy/bridging…

Joint statement from Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Psychiatrists sent to all MPs. It couldn’t be clearer: the Bill does not provide sufficient protection for vulnerable people. And yet… hundreds of MPs will vote for this Bill based on a campaigning soundbite that it’s ’safest in the world’.