Page 19 - Time to DeLiver: Getting a Grip on HE report 2015

SECTION 4
Continued...

All of the patients described in our case studies have experienced significant delays in
their diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy. For Charlie, this had devastating consequences
resulting in him being arrested while in the local hospital Emergency Department. Another
patient was hospitalised and was unconscious for several weeks.

Calls to action

• Healthcare providers with an interest in hepatic encephalopathy should use any opportunity to
raise the profile of the condition amongst their peers and in professional organisations.

• Patients, and in particular, carers should be made aware of the signs and symptoms of hepatic
encephalopathy and its common causes. The Hepatic Encephalopathy patient information
publication (available at: www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/liver-information/liver-conditions/hepatic-
encephalopathy/), for example, provides useful information for patients, families and carers.

• Patients and carers should have access to an informed point of contact who can provide advice
and organise interventions at an early stage.

• All healthcare professionals should be capable of identifying symptoms suggestive of hepatic
encephalopathy and taking appropriate action. Comprehensive training and education should be
provided to ensure this is possible.

• There is a need for short and simplified guidelines defining the best practice care and support for
people with hepatic encephalopathy, which is easily applicable and useable in clinical practice
by a range of healthcare providers.

• Policy makers should work together with healthcare professionals, patients and carers to
develop a best practice/standard of care for managing hepatic encephalopathy and apply it at a
national level.

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