As someone approaches the end of their life, it is vitally important that they receive quality care and support, that their wishes are met, and that they are treated with dignity and respect.

Pathways through Care at the End of Life is a comprehensive guide to providing excellent, person-centred end of life care. Following a pathway from initial conversations about end of life to care in the last days of life and after death, it covers assessing need and planning care, co-ordinating care between different agencies, and ensuring quality in different settings, such as at home, in a hospice, or in hospital. Good practice guidance on communication, ensuring the person's needs are met, support for their family and how to facilitate a good death is given. Case studies illustrate real life practice, and questions throughout each chapter encourage reflective practice.

This book will be essential reading for all those working with people at the end of life, such as nurses, social workers, GPs and home carers, as well as students in these fields.

The authors worked together on the National End of Life Care Programme (NEoLCP) team, the NHS programme set up to implement the UK Department of Health's End of Life Care Strategy, which ran between 2008 and 2013. Anita Hayes was Deputy Director, Claire Henry, Director, Margaret Holloway and Tes Smith were Social Care Leads and Katie Lindsay and Eleanor Sherwen worked as Project Managers. Margaret Holloway is also Professor of Social Work at the University of Hull, UK.

Acknowledgements. 1. The Context and Philosophy of End of Life Care. 2. Discussions as the End of Life Approaches 3. Assessing Need and Planning Care. 4. Co-ordination of Care. 5. Delivery of High Quality Care in Different Settings. 6. Care in the Last Days of Life. 7. Care after Death. 8. Quality End of Life Care for All. References. Index.