Birmingham hospices partner to launch single hub for care during Covid-19

Source: Hospice UK

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Date of publication: April 2020

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: Adult Hospices in Birmingham and Solihull have all come together to offer a single hub to provide the very best care at the end of life during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Length of publication: 1 page

Providing comprehensive, person-centred assessment and support for family carers towards the end of life

 

Source: Hospice UK

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Date of publication: April 2018

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: A  report by Hospice UK, Gail Ewing of the University of Cambridge, and Gunn Grande from the University of Manchester, discusses that comprehensive person-centred support for  family carers during end of life care requires whole-systems change within healthcare organisations. This document outlines the structures and processes that need to be in place to deliver such change in the form of 10 recommendations.

Length of publication: 24 pages

 

General practitioners perceptions on advance care planning for patients living with dementia

Source: BMC Palliative Care 2015 14; 14

Follow this link for the full article

Date of publication: April 2015

Publication type: Research article

In a nutshell: Advance care planning (ACP) facilitates communication and understanding of preferences, nevertheless the use of ACPs in primary care is low. The uncertain course of dementia and the inability to communicate with the patient living with dementia are significant challenges for GPs to initiate discussions on goals of care. A cross-sectional survey, using a purposive, cluster sample of GPs across Northern Ireland with registered dementia patients was used. The results suggest that while most respondents felt that GPs should take the initiative to introduce and encourage ACP, most survey participants acknowledged the need for improved knowledge to involve families in caring for patients with dementia at the end of life and that a standard format for ACP documentation was needed. In conclusion the article suggests optimal timing of ACP discussions should be determined by the readiness of the patient and family carer to face end of life. ACP discussions can be enhanced by educational strategies directed towards the patient and family carer that enable shared decision-making with their GP when considering options in future care.

Length of publication: 6 pages

 

What’s important to me: a review of choice in end of life care

Source: Choice in End of Life Care Programme Board

Follow this link for the full report

Date of publication: February 2015

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: The independently led Review of Choice in End of Life Care has provided advice to Government which includes: establishing a ‘national choice offer’ focused on individual’s end of life care needs by April 2020; providing an additional £130 million funding for end of life health and social care services; establishing 24/7 community end of life care by 2019 in all areas implementing shared electronic end of life care records by April 2018 in all areas; and a named responsible senior clinician for all people approaching the end of life.

Length of publication: 72p.

 

 

 

Transforming end of life care in acute hospitals

Source: NHS Improving Quality

Follow this link for the website

Date of publication: June 2014

Publication type: Website

In a nutshell: The Transform Programme aims to improve the quality of end of life care in hospitals across England, enabling more people to be supported to live and die well in their preferred place.

The programme encourages hospital Trusts to develop a strategic approach to reaching their aim to improve quality of care. This includes:

– The involvement of of patients, carers and the public

– Developing staff skills, competencies and confidence through education and development

– Quality assurance, measurement and evaluation

The Transform Programme aims to improve the quality of end of life care within acute hospitals across England, enabling more people to be supported to live and die well in their preferred place.

The programme focuses on both the quality of care provided by acute hospitals, as well as the important role acute hospitals have, as one of many organisations that may provide care for people who are approaching end of life. End of life care includes care for people in their last years, months and days of life as well as care after death.

– See more at: http://www.nhsiq.nhs.uk/improvement-programmes/long-term-conditions-and-integrated-care/end-of-life-care/acute-hospital-care.aspx#sthash.FdEV1IAF.dpuf

 

The Transform Programme aims to improve the quality of end of life care within acute hospitals across England, enabling more people to be supported to live and die well in their preferred place.

The programme focuses on both the quality of care provided by acute hospitals, as well as the important role acute hospitals have, as one of many organisations that may provide care for people who are approaching end of life. End of life care includes care for people in their last years, months and days of life as well as care after death.

– See more at: http://www.nhsiq.nhs.uk/improvement-programmes/long-term-conditions-and-integrated-care/end-of-life-care/acute-hospital-care.aspx#sthash.FdEV1IAF.dpuf

 

The Transform Programme aims to improve the quality of end of life care within acute hospitals across England, enabling more people to be supported to live and die well in their preferred place.

The programme focuses on both the quality of care provided by acute hospitals, as well as the important role acute hospitals have, as one of many organisations that may provide care for people who are approaching end of life. End of life care includes care for people in their last years, months and days of life as well as care after death.

– See more at: http://www.nhsiq.nhs.uk/improvement-programmes/long-term-conditions-and-integrated-care/end-of-life-care/acute-hospital-care.aspx#sthash.FdEV1IAF.dpu

The Transform Programme aims to improve the quality of end of life care within acute hospitals across England, enabling more people to be supported to live and die well in their preferred place.

The programme focuses on both the quality of care provided by acute hospitals, as well as the important role acute hospitals have, as one of many organisations that may provide care for people who are approaching end of life. End of life care includes care for people in their last years, months and days of life as well as care after death.

– See more at: http://www.nhsiq.nhs.uk/improvement-programmes/long-term-conditions-and-integrated-care/end-of-life-care/acute-hospital-care.aspx#sthash.FdEV1IAF.dpuf

 

End-of-life-care after the Liverpool Care Pathway

Source: British Journal of Community Nursing 2014, v.19(5) pp 250 – 254

Follow this link for the abstract

Date of publication: May 2014

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article presents a review of key issues around caring for people in the last hours and days of life. The aim is that community nurses will be able to support patients and families, and to provide and explain decisions and interventions to promote comfort and dignity based on current evidence.

Length of publication: 5 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

 

Leadership alliance formed to respond to the independent review of the Liverpool Care Pathway

Source: NHS England

Follow this link for the webpage

Date of publication: August 2013

Publication type: Website

In a nutshell: A Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People (LACDP) is being set up under the chairmanship of Dr Bee Wee, National Clinical Director for End of Life Care at NHS England. The alliance, a coalition of regulatory and professional bodies aim to lead the way in creating and delivering the knowledge base, the education, training and skills and the long-term commitment needed to make high quality care for dying patients a reality, not just an ambition.

Hospices in the UK are losing out under complex new commissioning and contracting arrangements

Source: International Journal of Palliative Nursing

Follow this link to download article

Date of publication: July 2013

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: Between March and May of this year Help the Hospices undertook a survey of our member hospices in England, focussed on new commissioning and contracting arrangements between the recently established CCGs and hospices for the 2013/14 financial year. They found that commissioning and contracting have become much more complicated under these new arrangements, which are hindering hospices and saddling many with extra bureaucracy and costs. As well as additional costs arising from increased bureaucracy, some hospices have incurred significant costs as a result of delays in CCGs agreeing funding arrangements. The financial impact of the new commissioning and contracting arrangements on all hospices in England, primarily from new data-reporting requirements under the standard NHS contract, is conservatively estimated to be at least £3.2 million, although the true costs are likely to be much higher.

Length of publication: 2 pages

Some important notes: This article is available in full text to all NHS Staff using Athens. For more information about accessing full text, follow this link to find your local NHS Library

 

Future needs and preferences for hospice care: challenges and opportunities for hospices

Source: Help the Hospices Commission

Follow this link for the report

Date of publication:April 2013

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This report considers how hospices need to develop over the next three to five years to be prepared for the challenges facing them in the future, challenges including building new partnerships and developing stronger business acumen to working more closely with care home and doing more to value carers.

Length of publication: 57p

10 Questions to ensure good end of life care in your area

Source: Marie Curie Cancer Care and National Council for Palliative Care

Follow this link for the report

Date of publication: March 2013

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: The National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) and Marie Curie have jointly published a new guide to help the public hold politicians to account on end of life care. ’10 questions to ensure good end of life care in your area’ aims to help people in their localities scrutinise and challenge MPs, GP Commissioners, councillors and other decision makers regarding end of life care.

Length of publication: 20 pages

Acknowledgement: NCPC

New report looks at the role of local authorities in end of life care

Source: LGiU – Local Government Information Unit

Follow this link to download the full report

Date of publication: November 2012

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: The Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) has published a report into end of life care provision within local authorities. The report is based on findings from a national online survey, which received 135 responses and indicated that:

• 60 per cent of respondents thought that their existing end of life care arrangements would not be sufficient in future.
• Four out of 10 respondents thought that Health and Wellbeing Boards should lead on end of life care in future. However, only three out of 10 said that their shadow Health and Wellbeing Boards had identified end of life care as a priority.
• 40 per cent of respondents reported that their authority had a lead officer for end of life care. Just over half had a local plan for end of life care, either on their own, or jointly with health.
• 60 per cent of respondents said that their authority intended to develop their role in promoting better end of life care.

Length of publication: 17p.

Acknowledgement: National End of Life Care Programme

Bedfordshire’s Partnership for Excellence in Palliative Support (PEPS)

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

Follow this link for case study report

Date of publication: October 2012

Publication type: Website

In a nutshell: Bedfordshire’s Partnership for Excellence in Palliative Support (PEPS) pilot is helping to integrate all end of life care services in the area. It is based on a ‘memorandum of understanding’ between 15 local organisations and a central electronic register that all individuals sign up to. So far two thirds of people’s deaths have taken place in their usual homes. The proportion of home deaths in the area has risen and hospital deaths fallen.

Length of publication: 1p.

Acknowledgement: National End of Life Care Programme

 

The route to success in end of life care – achieving quality in ambulance services

Source: National End of  Life Care Programme

Follow this link  to download the full report

Date of publication: February 2012

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: Ambulance services make a crucial contribution to enabling people to have their stated care preferences met and to achieve a ‘good death’ – dying with dignity, ideally in the setting of their choice. The End of Life Care Strategy (DH 2008) recognised ambulance services’ key role in three important areas:
1. Rapid transfer of the dying
2. Developing appropriate transport for the person/carer
3. Developing robust information systems to ensure the wishes of the person (i.e. DNACPRs) are communicated to ambulance services and staff.

Length of publication: 40p.

Acknowledgement: National End of Life Care Programme  and Association of Ambulance Chief Executives

Evaluating Program Integration and the Rise in Collaboration: Case study of a palliative care network

Source: Journal of Palliative Care, Winter 2011, 27, (4), p.270 -279

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: Winter 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article focuses on an attempt to build capacity to deliver palliative care in an integrated way across a range of communities in Ontario, Canada.  The objective was to achieve an effective integrated system that was cost-effective and responsive to patient’s needs.  14 communities were involved and overall the approach appears to be beneficial.  Change has been gradual and structural issues continue to be a challenge.

Length of publication: 9 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.