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Expert palliative care information with links to local services to support clinicians and healthcare workers across Mid and South Essex

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Recent Articles

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12th February 2026

Pain and dementia

How to assess whether someone with advanced dementia is in pain, and ways to help

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8th January 2026

Loneliness

Loneliness is a part of being human, especially in times of change

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4th January 2026

Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression: Information for clinicians

Diagnosis and initial management of Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC)

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18th December 2025

Lasting power of attorney (LPA)

A LPA ensures someones wishes for care and finances are respected when they can no longer decide for themselves

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3rd December 2025

ICD deactivation towards the end of life: Information for clinicians

Reviewing ICD management is a crucial component of advance care planning

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27th November 2025

Fatigue: Information for clinicians

Understanding contributing causes and treatment options 

Expert Advice
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13th November 2025

Recognising the last weeks and days of life

What to notice as the last weeks of life are approaching

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15th October 2025

Deprescribing: Information for clinicians

Medications should be reviewed in the last months of life and many could be safely stopped

Expert Advice
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15th October 2025

Seizures: Information for clinicians

Management of seizures in advancing illness

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2nd October 2025

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25th September 2025

Pruritis: Information for clinicians

An approach to assessment and treatment in the community

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18th September 2025

Approaching family meetings

How to inform, connect, and make decisions with families within a formal meeting

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17th September 2025

Discussing CPR with patients

Talking about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is an essential part of advance care planning

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15th September 2025

Challenging conversations - improving your communication skills

Recommended resources on how best to share information on diagnosis, prognosis and disease progression

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4th September 2025

Opioid conversion

Resources for clinicians to tackle tricky opioid dose conversions.

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4th September 2025

Opioid toxicity: Information for clinicians

Opioid toxicity is common, and is a reversible cause of delirium

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13th August 2025

Explaining palliative care: Information for clinicians

A useful video to help broach palliative care with patients and carers

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24th July 2025

Books to support grief

Different approaches to living with grief

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17th July 2025

Superior Vena Cava Obstruction (SVCO): Information for clinicians

SVCO is a life-threatening condition caused by compression or blockage of the superior vena cava

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5th July 2025

Setting up integrated care in your area?

HPAL can be customised to any region or ICS

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29th May 2025

Lymphoedema: Information for clinicians

Understanding and managing lymphoedema - a practial overview for clinicians 

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22nd May 2025

Books to better understand dying, death and palliative care

Browsing books can be a gentle way to feel less alone and more in control 

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22nd May 2025

Advance care planning for people with a learning disability

An approach to discussing future care and wishes 

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22nd May 2025

Hypercalcaemia

Hypercalcaemia is a common complication in advanced cancer which requires early diagnosis and urgent decision making

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15th May 2025

Supporting people with learning disabilities through bereavement

Key points to help people with learning disability to navigate loss

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17th April 2025

Anxiety towards the end of life: Information for clinicians

A nuanced approach to assessing anxiety in palliative illness

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9th March 2025

Financial help when you are living with a terminal illness

An overview of benefit entitlement and where to seek further advice

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26th February 2025

Resources for children and young people

Local and national services that support children, young people and families

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26th February 2025

Advance care planning for children and young people: Information for clinicians

Principles of advance care planning for children and young people, and links to fuller guidance 

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13th February 2025

Haemorrhage from malignant wounds

How to manage surface bleeding or erosion into a major blood vessel

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13th February 2025

Malignant wounds

An approach to managing wounds caused by cancer

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10th February 2025

Depression in palliative care: Information for clinicians

Assessment, diagnosis and management of depression in palliative care  

 

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9th January 2025

Explaining grief

A description of the most common experiences of grief following a bereavement 

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9th January 2025

Driving and medications: Information for clinicians

What to advise patients about driving when prescribing analgesics or anxiolytics

 

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9th January 2025

Radiotherapy skin reactions: Information for clinicians

Guidance on managing the skin impact of radiotherapy

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20th November 2024

EPaCCS: Information for clinicians

Guidance for clinicians on how to use the Electronic Palliative Care Coordination System (EPaCCS)

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19th November 2024

How to assess a patient in pain towards the end of life: Information for clinicians

An approach to assessing physical pain in palliative care

Expert Advice
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14th November 2024

Constipation: Information for clinicians

How should I best manage constipation in a patient with advancing illness? Advice from a senior palliative physician

Expert Advice
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31st October 2024

Hiccups: Information for clinicians

Aetiology and management in palliative care patients

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11th October 2024

Update on the role of doctors after a death at home

Changes in death certification since September 9th 2024

Expert Advice
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9th October 2024

Pharmacies

Pharmacies which stock end of life medications in your area

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7th October 2024

Organ Donation

How to donate organs, exclusions for donations and further information for patients

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1st October 2024

Anticipatory Prescribing: Information for clinicians

How to prescribe symptom control medicines for people in the last days of life

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7th September 2024

Flying Safely

Helping patients with air travel including towards the end of life

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5th September 2024

Supporting children when someone is dying

Children are never too young to talk about death and dying

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4th July 2024

Starting a Syringe Pump: Information for clinicians

How do I decide when it is appropriate to start a syringe pump and what should I prescribe? Advice from a senior palliative physician

Expert Advice
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4th July 2024

Terminal Agitation: Information for clinicians

Confusion, restlessness and agitation are common distressing symptoms at the end of life and require careful physical assessment and management

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4th July 2024

Neuropathic pain: Information for clinicians

Diagnosis and treatment of nerve pain, and when to seek specialist advice

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3rd July 2024

Nausea and vomiting: Information for clinicians

A pragmatic approach to assessment and treatment in the community 

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1st July 2024

Abdominal pain in patients with cancer: Information for clinicians

How should I best assess abdominal pain in a patient with advancing cancer? Advice from a senior palliative physician

Expert Advice
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30th June 2024

Secretions at the end of life: Information for clinicians

How should I treat noisy breathing at the end of life? Advice from a senior palliative physician

Expert Advice
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30th June 2024

Breathlessness: Information for clinicians

Guidance on managing breathlessness whatever the cause

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29th June 2024

Malignant bowel obstruction: Information for clinicians

Bowel obstruction can be acute or subacute

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29th June 2024

Insomnia in palliative care: Information for clinicians

How do you manage insomnia in the final weeks or months of life? Advice from a senior palliative physician

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28th June 2024

Cough: Information for clinicians

An approach to managing cough 

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22nd June 2024

Referred and radiating pain: Information for clinicians

What patterns of referred pain do you commonly see? Advice from a senior palliative physician

Expert Advice
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21st June 2024

Bone pain: Information for clinicians

Clinical features and how to treat

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21st June 2024

Starting morphine: Information for clinicians

How do I decide when it is appropriate to start strong opioids? Advice from a senior palliative physician

Expert Advice
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19th June 2024

Sweating: Information for clinicians

Management tips to control drenching sweats

Expert Advice
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30th April 2024

Delirium: Information for clinicians

Acute confusion is often reversible

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16th April 2024

Oral problems: information for clinicians

A logical approach to assessment and treatment in the community

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28th March 2024

Assessing cancer pain

A pragmatic approach to assessment and treatment in the community

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26th December 2023

Digital legacy: an important part of advance care planning

Supporting patients with their online accounts is part of a holistic approach to advance care planning

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13th July 2023

Palliative care and dementia

An overview of services related to dementia and palliative care

 

Expert Advice
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27th February 2023

Caring at home - practical tips

A range of short videos and invaluable practical tips for families caring at home towards the end of life

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7th June 2022

Opportunities for further training

Resources and e-learning for clinicians to learn more about palliative care

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1st February 2022

The Lancet Commission on the Value of Death

A global vision for healthcare professionals on death and dying 

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11th October 2021

Conversations about approaching death

How to discuss the process of dying with your patients

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25th May 2021

What matters to you - conversations that count

Creative resources to help start those crucial conversations about what matters to you

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6th February 2021

You matter because you are you

7 Point Action Plan for Better Palliative Care 2021 developed from research during the pandemic by the Cicely Saunders Institute

 

 

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10th June 2020

Suffering and the role of healthcare workers

An important discussion of personhood, suffering and the role of clinicians

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