HEALTH chiefs at Warrington have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that only the highest standard of care is given to people who are in the final days or hours of their life.
The announcement by Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) comes following the “More Care, Less Pathway” independent review report and recommendation that the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP) is phased out within the next six to 12 months and replaced with end of life care plans that are tailored to the needs of individual patients and their families.
The national Pathway which is currently in place across Warrington helps guide doctors, nurses, care home 
staff and other healthcare professionals to care for patients when they are coming to the end of their lives, including decisions relating to comfort measures and continuing treatments and medications.
Dr Andy Davies, (pictured) local GP and chairman of Warrington CCG, said: “In Warrington, the Liverpool Care Pathway has been a successful guiding tool in improving the timeliness and quality of decisions about the care of dying patients.
“It is intended to help patients die a peaceful and dignified death but unfortunately in some parts of the UK, the Pathway has not been implemented correctly and this has led to the review and subsequent recommendations to replace it with personalised care plans.
“We are fully committed to ensuring that that only the highest standard of care is given to patients and we are currently working with our healthcare partners, providers and clinicians alongside patients and their carers to review the recommendations made and ensure that we continue to deliver the best care for our residents at the end of their lives.”
St. Rocco’s Hospice, which receives grant funding from Warrington CCG to provide specialist palliative care for people with all life limiting illnesses, works to help hundreds of patients and their families in Warrington each year, providing clinical treatment, emotional and spiritual support, symptom control, nursing care and complementary therapies.
Pam Massey, chief executive of St Rocco’s Hospice, said: “We strive to deliver the highest standards of individualised care and psychological support at end of life to ensure that our patients are regularly reviewed and assessed, are offered treatments to maintain comfort, are treated with the utmost dignity and respect and are continually communicated with by our skilled and trained doctors and nurses.
“Documentation that we are currently using to capture this quality care is the Liverpool Care Pathway document. It is not the means by which we provide the care but is how we record the care given to ensure the highest standards are consistent, appropriate and based on the needs of the person at that time.
“As new guidelines and information are developed over the next 12 months, St Rocco’s will review and agree any changes to our processes with our skilled clinicians, who will keep our patients and families fully informed.”
Pledge of care in the final days
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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“….the highest standard of care is given to people who are in the final days or hours of their life. “…. but for the years before that you can just whistle mate!