"Cancer patients are to get greater access to cancer drugs recommended by their doctors as a result of a new £50 million fund announced by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley".

"The new National End of Life Care Programme newsletter is out now. In this issue: •Focus on acute hospitals •Facilitators’ Network •NHS White Paper •First statistical reports from the National End of Life Care Intelligence Network (NEoLCIN)"

"The analysis by the Economist Intelligence Unit looked at access to services, quality of care and public awareness in 40 countries. It found the UK performed particularly well on issues such as obtaining pain killers and quality of support. Along with Australia, it received 7.9 out of 10, well ahead of nations such as Denmark, on 5.1 and Italy, on 4.4. India came bottom on 1.9."

"Prof David Jones said that if society agrees that it is in some people’s interests for them to end their own lives, it is difficult to resist the logical conclusion that others should be helped to die even if they have not made such a request."

"The first licensed medical drug containing whole cannabis plant extracts has been launched to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)."

"A molecule which may control how acupuncture relieves pain has been pinpointed by US researchers."

New records added to the 'NHS Evidence - supportive and palliative care' specialist collection in May 2010.

"The National End of Life Care Intelligence Network (NEoLCIN) aims to improve the collection and analysis of information related to the quality, volume and costs of care provided by the NHS, social services and the third sector, to people approaching the end of life. This intelligence will help drive improvements in the quality and productivity of services. The Network is supported by the National End of Life Care Programme."

"New guidance for doctors, Treatment and care towards the end of life: good practice in decision making, published 20 May 2010, comes into effect on 1 July 2010."

New records added to the 'NHS Evidence - supportive and palliative care' specialist collection in April 2010.

"Patients in Scotland are to be given the legal power to refuse cardiac resuscitation under new rules allowing the terminally ill the right to die with dignity. Those facing the final days of a life-threatening illness can forbid doctors from reviving them if their heart stops. Their decision will be shared with all medical staff involved in their care such as GPs, consultants and paramedics"

"HRH The Princess Royal opened the world’s first purpose-built Institute of Palliative Care at King’s yesterday. It is the only organisation in the world solely dedicated to the research and improvement of services into end of life care, wherever patients are cared for."

"Dr Howard Martin, 75, is alleged to have administered the diamorphine to a succession of elderly patients at his practice in County Durham.The GP visited every one of the 18 patients shortly before their deaths and usually outside normal surgery hours. Each of those who died was either terminally ill or in “a parlous or frail condition”..."

The 2010 Annual Evidence Update on pain in supportive and palliative care.

"Now scientists believe they have uncovered the secret behind so-called ‘near death experiences’. Rather than a religious experience, as many believe, researchers think that the phenomenon could be a simple trick of the mind, caused by a chemical reaction in the body. People with high levels of carbon dioxide in their bloodstream were more likely to experience the visions, they found. Previous research suggests that very high levels of the gas can trigger hallucinations in some people."