Guideline overview

Clinical Principles for End of Life and Palliative Care Guideline

The Guideline is available from the NSW Health website.

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

The Guideline aligns with the NSW Health End of Life and Palliative Care Framework 2019-2024.

Implementation

The End of Life and Palliative Care organisational models were developed in consultation with the End of Life and Palliative Care Clinical Principles Working Group members and the ACI Evidence team.

The models of care are based on an evidence review conducted in 2020. This resource has been developed to support best practice and improve the delivery of end of life and palliative care across NSW.

Organisational models (PDF, 145.5 KB) Evidence check (PDF, 513.2 KB)

The End of Life and Palliative Care Self-Assessment Tool reviews activity across the nine key actions identified in the guideline to identify areas where the service or entity is excelling in implementing the key actions and those areas where there are opportunities for improvement.

Self-Assessment Tool instructions (PDF, 270.9 KB) Self-Assessment Tool (PDF, 373.6 KB)