Also information available from BBC Health website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/disorders_dementia.shtml
British Society of Psychiatrists has a useful leaflet online: http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/default.aspx?page=1427
Cancer Research UK website: information about different types of cancer and about present research projects: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/
Macmillan Cancer Support website has a multitude of information about cancer, treatments, and cancer survivorship. http://www.macmillan.orguk/Home.aspx
For professionals: Macmillan has a very informative ‘learn zone’ website which can be accessed following this link. It’s free, but you need to register to use it. http://learnzone.macmillan.org.uk/
To find your local hospice visit: http://www.helpthehospices.org.uk/about-hospice-care/find-a-hospice/uk-hospice-and-palliative-care-services/ By typing in your postcode you can access the contact details for your closest hospice.
Health talk online: Set up by the DIPEx charity, this is a very useful website both for the public and professionals, using real-life people to talk about their own stories. Some of these are to do with having a terminal illness, personal experiences of chronic illness and also mental health: http://www.healthtalkonline.org/
MND Association: helpful website for anyone living with motor neurone disease: http://www.mndassociation.org/
Heart failure: NHS Choices website: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-failure/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Chronic kidney Failure: UK National Kidney Federation http://www.kidney.org.uk/Medical-Info/ckd-info/
The National Council for Palliative Care is a national organisation which supports people with terminal illness and professionals: http://www.ncpc.org.uk
NHS Choices: information for anyone with a palliative illness. Includes a link to the Carers Direct helpline, and information on some possible grants to help with the financial costs of caring http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/guide/bereavement/Pages/ Grants
Marie Curie offer free support to people who want to die in their own home: http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/
Useful in finding out more information about recording your own, or your patients’, wishes. http://www.adrtnhs.co.uk/
Direct.gov is a useful website for lots of different things, the mental Capacity Act being one of them: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisahledPeople/HealthAndSupport/YourRightsInHealth/DG_10016888
The Department of Justice now governs this, but information can be found from the Department of Constitutional affairs, an archive website. This link will take you to the list of booklets available for professionals and the public: http://www.dca.gov.uk/legal-policy/mental-capacity/publications.htm#booklets
Information about patient selection, and complications: http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Enteral-Feeding.htm
For people with cancer, this site gives information on what enteral feeding is all about: http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/coping-with-cancer/coping-physically/diet/managing/drip-or-tube-feeding
The Resuscitation Council (UK) guidance, which has been written with the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing: http://www.resus.org.uk/pages/dnarrstd.htm
Financial support if caring for someone with a terminal illness, available at Direct.gov: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/ CaringAndSupportServices/DG_10035718
If I should Die: a very informative website covering lots of different subjects, such as funeral plans, benefits and how to comfort those who are grieving: http://www.ifishoulddie.co.uk/terminal-life-threatening-illness-c40.html
A website for family carers which offers help and advice for anyone caring for someone with a long-term or terminal illness: http://www.carers.org/
GLOSSARY
by Madeline Bass, RGN, BSC (Hons)
Abdominal exploration: a surgical investigation through an incision, or through key-hole surgery using cameras.
Abdominal sounds: the normal sounds produced by movement of the bowel and gut.
Acetylcholine: a neuro-transmitter. This is a substance which the body produces at the end of each nerve cell which then stimulates the next nerve cell to continue the message.
Acidosis: increased acid levels in the blood which is caused by partial or complete renal failure.
Acute intestinal obstruction: This is when the gut suddenly blocks either internally, such as from a tumour or the gut twisting, or externally such as from a tumour pressing on to the gut.
Adrenaline: a substance produced by the body in times of threat or stress. One of its actions is to speed up the heart rate. If the heart stops unexpectedly, adrenaline is one of the drugs used to try and stimulate it to begin working again.
Advance Directive: now called Advance Decision: These are now legally recognised documents, with specific wording, which refuses treatment in specific circumstances, witnessed. They have to be written whilst the person still has mental capacity and can only come into effect when the person loses that capacity. They must be signed and witnessed to become legal. If overruled by a healthcare professional they could face charges of neglect or assault.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (AMS): a form of Motor Neurone Disease (MND): MND affects the nerves which control functions of the body, and is always fatal.
Analgesic: a medication or drug which reduces the feeling of pain.
Aneurysm: a blood-filled swelling of the wall of an artery.
Angina pectoris: lack of oxygen to the heart muscles, which causes pain in the chest and breathlessness.
Anodyne: an analgesic which works by lessening the sensitivity of the nerves or brain.
Anorexia: not to be confused with anorexia nervosa, this refers to lack of appetite.
Anti-coagulants: a wide-ranging group of drugs to dissolve and prevent blood clots forming inside the blood vessels.
Anti-emetics: drugs which suppress nausea and vomiting.
Aperients: oral drugs used to stimulate the bowels.
Arteries: blood vessels which carry oxygenated blood.
Arterioles: the smallest arteries in the body.
Ascites: build-up of fluid in the abdominal cavity.
Asphyxia: suffocation, dying through lack of oxygen.
Aspirating needle: a needle used to remove fluid from a part of the body.