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‘If only someone had told me…’: A review of the care of patients dying in hospital

Polly Edmonds and Angie Rogers
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.3-2-149
Clin Med March 2003
Polly Edmonds
Department of Palliative Care and Policy, King's College, London
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Angie Rogers
Department of Palliative Care and Policy, King's College, London
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Abstract

Approximately half of all patients who die do so in hospital. Despite the advent of palliative care in the UK, there is evidence that the care that many patients receive in the final phase of their illness in hospital is poor. Building on a study of bereaved relatives' views of the information provided by an inner city hospital trust during an admission in which a patient died, this article explores the factors that may contribute to sub-optimal care for patients dying in hospital. In particular, a lack of open communication, difficulties in accurate prognostication and a lack of planning of end-of-life care can all result in poor care. Strategies to improve care, such as the use of integrated care pathways, advance directives and education initiatives, are discussed.

  • advance directives
  • communication
  • death
  • dying
  • end-of-life care
  • palliative care
  • © 2003 Royal College of Physicians
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‘If only someone had told me…’: A review of the care of patients dying in hospital
Polly Edmonds, Angie Rogers
Clinical Medicine Mar 2003, 3 (2) 149-152; DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.3-2-149

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‘If only someone had told me…’: A review of the care of patients dying in hospital
Polly Edmonds, Angie Rogers
Clinical Medicine Mar 2003, 3 (2) 149-152; DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.3-2-149
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