Reading List

These official sources back the course content and are useful for workplace follow-up, supervision, refresher learning and policy review. The course is based on current NICE guidance, with additional nation-specific signposting where pathways, NHS resources or regulators differ across the UK.

Core clinical guidance used in this course

• NICE CG103: Delirium - prevention, diagnosis and management in hospital and long-term care
  Core guidance for delirium in long-term residential care and nursing homes. Last updated on 18 January 2023, it covers risk, indicators, prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment and information and support.
• NICE CG103 recommendations
  Contains the specific recommendations on risk factors, signs at presentation, daily observation, multicomponent prevention, 4AT assessment, managing cases where delirium and dementia overlap, de-escalation and information for families.
• NICE QS63: Delirium in adults
  Quality standard on prevention, diagnosis and management of delirium in adults in hospital or long-term care settings such as residential care or nursing homes.
• NICE QS63 quality statement 3: Use of antipsychotic medication for people who are distressed
  Reminds that antipsychotics are not a routine first-line treatment for delirium distress and should only be used if de-escalation is ineffective or inappropriate.
• NHS: Sudden confusion (delirium)
  Public-facing advice that sudden confusion requires immediate medical help. Reinforces simple measures: stay with the person, use clear language and avoid many questions while waiting for help.
• MHRA: Haloperidol reminder of risks when used in elderly patients for the acute treatment of delirium
  Explains why prescribers must be cautious with haloperidol in older people and why routine care staff should not use sedation as a convenience response.

England operational and regulatory context

• CQC Regulation 12: Safe care and treatment
  England regulation and guidance on risk assessment, timely response to changing needs, staff competence, incident reporting, emergency arrangements and safe care planning.

Wales signposting

• Cardiff and Vale University Health Board: Preventing and Managing Delirium
  Welsh NHS guidance on acute confusional state, risk factors and why delirium matters. Notes that if dementia and delirium are hard to distinguish, manage the person as having delirium.

Scotland signposting

• NHS inform Scotland: Delirium
  Scottish public guidance on sudden change, fluctuating symptoms, overlap with dementia and common triggers such as illness, medicines, injury and surgery.

Northern Ireland signposting

• HSC Public Health Agency: Delirium - Information for patients and relatives
  Northern Ireland public information on causes, symptoms and a family-facing leaflet that staff can use when explaining delirium.
• HSC Public Health Agency: Are they more confused than normal? wallet card
  A simple Northern Ireland awareness resource on delirium causes and symptoms for staff and the public.

For daily practice, follow your local escalation policy and the person's baseline care plan first, then consult these official sources for wider clinical, regulatory or nation-specific guidance.