1. 2 updates

Senior doctor: axing of care pathway 'illogical'

The decision to axe the controversial Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) is "illogical", palliative care consultant Claud Regnard has said. The end-of-life doctor said the care regime was being used as a "scapegoat".

Live updates

Liverpool Care Pathway was 'scapegoat' says doctor

A senior doctor criticising the axing of the controversial Liverpool Care Pathway has said the care regime was a "scapegoat"

Palliative care consultant Claud Regnard also compared the decision to banning the Highway Code because of bad drivers.

Writing in Age and Ageing, the journal of the British Geriatrics Society, Mr Regnard said:

The death of the Liverpool Care Pathway was preventable, an irony that was lost in the rush to pronounce its demise and promote the message of a listening government.

The Neuberger report failed to show that the Liverpool Care Pathway was the cause of poor end-of-life care and made it the scapegoat for poor communication and faulty decision-making.

The report's discrediting of a quality assurance mechanism that had the potential for improvement is a disservice to dying patients.

– Claud Regnard

Decision to axe care pathway 'illogical'

The decision to axe a controversial care pathway scheme has been labelled "illogical" by a senior end-of-life doctor.

In July an independent review panel said they were "shocked" and "upset" at some of the "distressing" cases of care used. Credit: PA

Palliative care consultant Claud Regnard said scrapping the Liverpool Care Pathway - which recommends the withdrawal of treatment, food and water from some sedated patients in their final hours or days - is a "tragedy".

The decision to scrap the measure was made in July after an independent review concluded doctors had used the pathway "as an excuse for poor-quality care".

Advertisement

Back to top