Christina Faull

The care of patients with advanced and terminal illness can be extremely rewarding but often causes professionals a considerable amount of discomfort. This is especially so when you feel under confident in your abilities to provide a high quality of symptom management and relief from distress and to communicate appropriately with patients. Patients with advanced disease present some of the most challenging ethical, physical, psychological and social issues to clinicians and indeed to society. Patients need us to be knowledgeable, skilful and understanding. The fully revised and updated new edition of Palliative Care outlines the fundamental principles and facts which will enable you to make a very real difference to your patients and their families. Information is provided in an accessible, user-friendly way and covers a wide range of physical and non-physical symptom management. Multi-professional team work is addressed, as is the role and support of families. There is also a consideration of the dilemmas and decisions that may be encountered by doctors around the end of a patient's life. This practical resource, designed to provoke contemplative professional development, and enhance learning will be essential reading for nursing and medical practitioners, and other professionals who support patients in their homes, in care homes, and in hospital.… (meer)

The care of patients with advanced and terminal illness can be extremely rewarding but often causes junior and indeed senior clinicians a considerable amount of discomfort. Patients with advanced disease present some of the most challenging ethical, physical, psychological, spiritual and social issues to clinicians and indeed to society. In line with the new integrated medical curricula, Palliative Care introduces the medical student and junior doctor to the problems experienced by patients with advanced disease. Information is provided in an accessible, user-friendly and interactive way and covers a wide range of physical and non-physical symptom management. Multiprofessional team work is addressed, as is the role and support of families. There is also a consideration of the dilemmas and decisions that may be encountered by doctors around the end of a patient's life. Cover illustration: A water-colour titled 'The healing touch' reproduced with the kind permission of the artist Michele Angelo Petrone. Michele paints and writes of his experience during the treatment of Hodgkin's Disease. 'I need to know that this body is my body. And I need to know everything that is happening to my body. But most of all I need to know that you know that within my body there is me. Healing is brought about not just by medicine. It's not just treatment which cures you, but all that encompasses the human touch. A smile means more than an antibiotic injection, a hug more than a platelet transfusion. The face - of my friends, my family, my nurses and - yes - even my doctors, shows sympathy, compassion and understanding. This human face contributes so much to healing of the tortured soul'.… (meer)

This handbook provides clear insight into many of the complex issues that arise in the delivery of palliative care and will be an invaluable resource to all disciplines involved in palliative care in hospital, hospice and community settings. New sections on heart failure, respiratory failure and end--stage renal failure * Coverage of medicine management and complementary medicine in palliative care * Discusses important areas of audit and ethical issues in palliative medicine "The second edition responds to evaluative comments on the first edition in strengthening its multidisciplinary focus and providing a broader professional approach through both the editorial team and contributors.… (meer)