Web watch

online resources and useful updates.

End of lifE CarE

NHS Improving Quality has published End of Life Care in Advanced Kidney Disease: A Framework for Implementation. The Framework is about enabling people to achieve high quality end of life care, rather than ‘telling them what to do’. To achieve this, it explores the ‘kidney specific’ issues of end of life care focusing on patients opting for conservative kidney management and those ‘deteriorating despite’ dialysis. The overarching aim is to help people with advanced kidney disease to make informed choices about their needs for supportive and end of life care. www. nhsiq.nhs.uk/resource-search/ end-of-life-care-in-advancedkidney-disease-a-framework-forimplementation.aspx

PatiEnt ExPEriEnCE

Improving patient experience is going to be a big challenge for the incoming government, according to Picker Institute Europe. Picker has created an infographic which highlights some of the key patient experience related challenges that need to be addressed going forward, if a person centred approach is to be achieved. www.pickereurope.org/ wp-content/uploads/2015/05/GEinfographic-Final.pdf

dEMEntia friEndlY daYs out

Care UK has published a new guide Good to Go: a guide to dementia friendly days out aimed at transforming the experiences of those caring for loved ones living with dementia and providing information to overcome the challenges of getting out and about. This book explains how to plan trips and how to make the most out of every outing. www.careuk.com/ care-homes/news/dementia-guidehelps-carers-get-good-to-go

nEw anaEMia lEaflEt

A new patient information leaflet on anaemia has been produced by NHS Blood and Transplant. The eight-page booklet, What is anaemia? explains who is most at risk of developing the condition and explains that pregnant women are at a higher risk because the foetus takes essential iron from its mother for its own development. The booklet outlines the symptoms and explains the different types of anaemia, such as the underproduction of red cells, a problem in the bone marrow and excessive bleeding. The leaflet also explains what tests may be run to ascertain whether or not a person is anaemic and the treatments available. www.rcm.org.uk/tags/ leaflet

using aPPs in CliniCal PraCtiCE HosPital adMissions for strokE in PEoPlE agEd 4054 YEars

alCoHol ConsuMPtion trEnds

The Royal College of Physicians has published Using apps in clinical practice. This guidance aims to provide clinicians and medical app developers with important information about the use of apps in clinical practice. www.rcplondon. ac.uk/sites/default/files/apps_ guidance_factsheet.pdf An analysis of hospital admission data by the Stroke Association has found that the number of people aged between 40 and 54 admitted to hospital following stroke has increased by 46 percent for men and 30 percent for women in the last 15 years. It is thought that the rise is due to increasing sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle, and changes in hospital admission practice. www.mynewsdesk.com/ uk/stroke-association/latest_ news/tag/life-after-stroke

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published Tackling Harmful Alcohol Use Economics and Public Health Policy. The report highlights that harmful drinking is on the rise among young people and women in many OECD countries, partly due to alcohol becoming more available, more affordable and more effectively advertised. In the UK, the report highlights that the levels of alcohol consumption were above the OECD average and had increased during the last 30 years. In 2011, an average of 10.6 litres of pure alcohol per capita was consumed in the United Kingdom, compared with an estimate of 9.5 litres in the OECD. www.oecd.org/health/ tackleheavycostofharmfuldrinking. htm