Liverpool Care Pathway - Problems

The Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) is a checklist devised to help hospital doctors and nurses assist patients to a humane, dignified and pain-free end.  It basically transfers the hospice model of care into other care settings. 

But clinicians at the British Medical Association's Annual Representatives Meeting in Edinburgh admitted that there are some serious problems with the LCP.  (Daily Mail) (Telegraph)  

The problems identified include:

• Relatives unaware family members were on the LCP
• Senior clinicians unaware patients were on the LCP
• Patients left on the LCP for weeks without any review or re-evaluation.
• Financial incentives offered to hospitals to get people on the pathway - a system put in place to reward good practice – risks a tick-box culture where clinicians may be tempted to feel that the job is done simply by getting the patient on to the LCP