Clinical Principles for End of Life and Palliative Care Guideline
The Guideline is available from the NSW Health website.
Download the guideline PDF
Key actions
The key actions described in the Guideline have been identified as meaningful, measurable and achievable priority actions that can be implemented locally to drive statewide, coordinated efforts to address the priority areas of the Framework.
1. Screening and identification
Use recognised tools to ensure detection of people who have potentially unmet end of life and/or palliative care needs
2. Triage
Improve timely and appropriate access to multidisciplinary care for the person, their family and carers
3. Comprehensive assessment
Support the evaluation of physical, environmental, social, cultural, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual needs
4. Care planning
Establish the goals and needs of the person, their family and carers to ensure the person’s preferences and needs are reflected
5. Open and respectful communication
Support effective conversations with the person, their family and carers
6. Symptom management
Engage with all multidisciplinary team members to provide quality symptom management
7. 24/7 access to support
Deliver timely, appropriate interventions and build partnerships in decision-making with the person, their family and carers
8. Place of death
Support people to receive care and die in their preferred place
9. Grief and bereavement support
Assist with the multifaceted aspects of loss associated with death such as emotional, financial and practical challenges
Additional considerations
Consider specific populations and culturally safe practices
Implementation
Tools and resources to support health professionals implementing the Clinical Principles.
The Guideline aligns with the NSW Health End of Life and Palliative Care Framework 2019-2024.