Hammersmith and Fulham

Welcome to HPAL

Expert palliative care information with links to local services to support clinicians and healthcare workers across North West London

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

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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

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31st October 2024

Hiccups: Information for clinicians

Aetiology and management in palliative care patients

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9th October 2024

Please complete our 3 minute survey

In order to improve content and secure ongoing funding we need your feedback

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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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10th September 2024

Update on the role of doctors after a death at home

Changes in death certification since September 9th 2024

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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

Malignant wounds

An approach to managing wounds caused by cancer

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5th September 2024

Haemorrhage from malignant wounds

How to manage erosion into a major blood vessel

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5th September 2024

How to talk to children about death and dying

Children are never too young to talk about death and dying

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6th July 2024

Anxiety towards the end of life: Information for clinicians

A nuanced approach to assessing anxiety in palliative illness

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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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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

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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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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

Deprescribing

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

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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

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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

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30th June 2024

Breathlessness: Information for clinicians

Guidance on managing breathlessness whatever the cause

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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

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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

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20th 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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19th June 2024

Sweating: Information for clinicians

Management tips to control drenching sweats

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7th June 2024

Needle free options towards the end of life

Treatment options for key symptoms without using injections

 

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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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1st March 2024

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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10th January 2024

Pharmacies

Pharmacies which stock end of life medications in your borough

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28th December 2023

Discussing CPR with patients

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

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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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9th November 2023

Opioid conversion

Resources for clinicians to tackle tricky opioid dose conversions.

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1st November 2023

Pruritis: Information for clinicians

A pragmatic approach to assessment and treatment in the community

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14th October 2023

Setting up a version of HPAL in your area

HPAL can be customised to any region or ICS

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8th October 2023

Anticipatory Prescribing: Information for clinicians

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

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28th September 2023

Lymphoedema: Information for clinicians

Understanding and managing lymphoedema - a practial overview for clinicians 

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27th July 2023

Pain and dementia

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

Expert Advice
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13th July 2023

Palliative care and dementia

An overview of services related to dementia and palliative care

 

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20th June 2023

Depression in palliative care: Information for clinicians

Assessment, diagnosis and management of depression in palliative care  

 

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28th April 2023

Challenging conversations - improving your communication skills

Guidance and videos on how to best communicate information on diagnosis, prognosis and disease progression

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24th April 2023

Radiotherapy skin reactions: Information for clinicians

Guidance on managing the skin impact of radiotherapy

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20th March 2023

Driving and medications: Information for clinicians

What to advise patients about driving when prescribing analgesics or anxiolytics

 

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12th March 2023

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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9th March 2023

Notes on grief

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

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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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16th September 2022

Twitter and palliative care

The best Twitter links to palliative care expertise and ideas

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28th August 2022

Approaching family meetings

How to inform, connect, and make decisions with families when patients who have a serious illness are not able to participate

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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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