NHS PAIN & SYMPTOM CONTROL GUIDELINES

NHS Palliative Care Pain and Symptom Control Guidelines, 4th Edition March 2015

Greater Manchester Strategic Clinical Network Pain and Symptom Control Guidelines in palliative care for multi-professional health care teams

This is fourth edition of the Greater Manchester Strategic Clinical Network Pain and Symptom Control Guidelines in palliative care for multi-professional health care teams involved in prescribing, advising, and administering therapies across all care settings including primary care, hospital, hospice and nursing homes. The guidelines cover pain and symptom control in specific situations and end of life care in the management of patients with an advanced progressive illness.

Seeking advice

Many drugs are used in palliative care outside their licensed indication at the prescriber’s discretion. The inclusion of a drug, dose or treatment in these guidelines does not absolve the prescriber of their personal responsibility in providing treatment that they are confident with, can justify and that is tailored to the individual patient. For details of licensed indications see the current BNF.

Throughout the guidelines there are numerous recommendations to seek specialist advice. For further information or advice please contact your local Specialist Palliative Care Team, Hospital and Clinical Commissioning Group Pharmacy Service Advisers.