Listed below is the high level evidence on Deteriorating patient and their handover produced by NICE, SIGN and NHS based organisations. Also included are the European Society guidelines where available. This list is produced and maintained by HEFT Library Services to support VITAL 4 Medics core skills programme developed in the Trust.

Map of Medicine

Search for Opioids

National Guidelines & Non-UK Guidelines (includes Professional Bodies/Associations)

NICE Guidance – Opioids in Palliative Care 2012

General Palliative Care Guidelines for the Management of Pain at the End of Life in

Adult Patients – GAIN 2011

British Pain Society – Opioids for Persistent Pain: Good Practice 2010

Roger Chou et al. Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Chronic Opioid Therapy in Chronic Noncancer Pain.The Journal of Pain, Vol 10, No 2 (February), 2009: pp 113-130

SIGN Guideline 106 – Control of pain in adults with cancer. 2008

Systematic Reviews – Cochrane Library

Laxmaiah Manchikanti A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials of Long-Term Opioid Management for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain. Pain Physician 2011; 14:91-121

Nicholson AB. Methadone for cancer pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007

NHS Evidence

PE Shaheen, SB LeGrand, D Walsh, et al. Errors in Opioid prescribing – a prospective survey in cancer pain. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management Apr 2010;39(4):702-711

National Patient Safety Agency. Reducing dosing errors with opioid medicines. 2009

NICE Pathways – Opioids in Palliative Care