Archbishop's response to Review of Liverpool Care Pathway

Archbishop Peter Smith

Following the publication of the Review of the Liverpool Care Pathway, The Most Rev Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark and Chair of the Bishops' Conference Department of Christian Responsibility and Citizenship, has made the following response: "The Catholic Church has a long tradition of care for the dying combining acknowledgement of death with care for vulnerable patients. It was in response to concerns raised by Catholics and by others about end of life care in England and Wales that I called for an enquiry into the use of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP)."

"I welcome the report of Baroness Neuberger into the implementation of the LCP and the initial response to that report from the government. It is clear that the committee has taken its responsibilities very seriously and has listened to patients, relatives, doctors and nurses. The committee has sought to protect the positive aspects of the LCP while proposing a new more flexible and personalised framework of ‘end of life care plans’. This report and its recommendations are worthy of careful consideration."

"From a Catholic perspective, the key issue is that, whatever pathway, plan or framework is adopted, it must be implemented ethically, with care for the patient always as the first priority."

See the Review: More Care Less Pathway - www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/212450/Liverpool_Care_Pathway.pdf

Source: CCN