Anticipatory Prescribing: information for patients and carers

This advice is sourced from Dr Ros Taylor a senior palliative physician

Q. What are the medicines that we have been given to keep at home and how do they work? 

It is essential to anticipate symptoms in advance and prescribe carefully to keep people safely at home in their final days.

Prescribing a small number of injections to cover common symptoms such as pain, nausea and vomiting, anxiety and breathing problems is important.

They are very useful if someone is unable to swallow their medicines towards the end of life.

The intention is to relieve suffering not to hasten death.

Please see the leaflet from Harlington Hospice (see downloads) for further information.

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Basildon and Wickford Integrated Care Team
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The team deliver specialist care for palliative and end of life care at home, complex care at home e.g. chemotherapy management of Hickman/PICC lines and support to those who are housebound within their own home including residential homes.

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Please call the advice line when:

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St Francis Hospice Referral Hub

T. 01708 758606

W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/make-a-referral

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Please refer a patient or making a self-referral to access hospice services.

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They also offer a variety of support groups – both virtual (online) and face to face

St Luke's Hospice Community Service
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