End of Life Care update – May 2013

Source: NHS Improving Quality

Follow this link for  to download the newsletter

Date of publication: May 2013

Publication type: Newsletter

In a nutshell: This newsletter gives the latest updates on two end of life care initiatives: using the NHS Change model to transform End of Life Care and the use of Electronic Palliative Care Co-ordination Systems (EPACCS) on the quality of end of life care.

Length of publication: 6 pages

An Evaluation of End of Life Care Facilitator Networks A Report for the National End of Life Care Programme

Source: NHS Improving Quality

Follow this link to download the report

Date of publication: April 2013

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: In 2010, the National End of Life Care Programme (NEoLCP) set up a network for End of Life Care (EoLC) facilitators to promote sharing of information, expertise, experience, best practice, and to provide peer support. In 2013 an independent evaluation of EoLC facilitators’ networks was undertaken by researchers at the University of York to test the benefits and value of the networks from the perspective of EoLC facilitators. This report shares best practice and demonstrates the enthusiastic, skilled and motivated network of EoLC facilitators now in place has made a significant contribution to improving the quality of care people receive at the end of life. Working with colleagues across a range of disciplines, EoLC facilitators have been the catalyst for service improvement in many areas of EoLC.

Length of publication: 44 pages

Getting it right: Improving end of life care for people living with liver disease

Source:  NHS Liver Care; National End of Life Care Programme

Follow this link to download the report

Date of publication: February 2013

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: NHS Liver Care and the National End of Life Care Programme have published a new report, which looks at how the pathway described in the Department of Health’s end of life care strategy can be applied for patients with advanced liver disease.

Length of publication: 28p.

Acknowledgement: Primary Care Commissioning

Commissioning person centred end of life care – A toolkit for health and social care professionals

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

Follow this link for the full report

Date of publication: October 2012

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: To help achieve a ‘good death’” for all, the National End of Life Care Programme and its partners have produced a short interactive guide to commissioning person-centred end of life care, which has been launched. The guide identifies the main elements involved in commissioning end of life care services, explains the commissioning cycle in practical terms and offers a four-stage approach across all sectors.

Length of publication: 17p.

 

End of life care pack aims to improve both life and death of extra care housing residents

Source: NHS National End of Life Care Programme

Follow this link to download the report

Date of publication: September 2012

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: End of life care in extra care housing: a learning resource pack provides practical information and advice for managers and support staff working in extra care housing schemes. It covers a range of issues relating to the care of residents with a life-limiting or progressive condition.

Length of publication: 92 pages

 

New end of life care profiles for each local authority

Source: National End of Life Care Intelligence Network

Follow this link for the website

Date of publication:August 2012

Publication type: Website

In a nutshell: The End of Life Care Local Authority Profiles 2012 present over 50 indicators for each local authority in England. They include social care indicators for the first time.

There are indicators that can be used to predict need:

• population
• deaths

and to look at current patterns of care:

• place of death
• cause of death
• deaths in hospital
• care homes
• social care.

Acknowledgement: National End of Life Care Programme

National End of Life Care Programme newsletter Issue 46 – June 2012

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

Follow this link for the newsletter

Date of publication: June 2012

Publication type:Newsletter

In a nutshell: In this issue of the NEoLCP Newsletter:

• Focus on dignity
• The National Dignity Council’s 10-point Dignity Challenge
• The ABCD of dignity care – attitude, behaviour, compassion, dialogue
• A West Sussex project to address spiritual needs at the end of life
• Case studies on dignity, dementia care and empowerment.

Length of publication: 11p

 

The route to success in end of life care – achieving quality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

Follow this link for the full report

Date of publication: June 2012

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people are at risk of not receiving high quality end of life care services, with many facing problems in terms of being treated with dignity and respect. The National End of Life Care Programme (NEoLCP) has published a new guide today to address this. This document offers guidance and advice for those working with LGBT people, and for LGBT people themselves, whether giving or receiving end of life care.

Length of publication: 36 pages

Acknowledgement: National Council for Palliative Care

Tried and tested End of Life Care Modelling Tools launched

Source: National End of Life Care Intelligence Network

Follow this link for website

Date of publication: May 2012

Publication type: Website

In a nutshell: Eight early adopter sites across England have worked with the National End of Life Care Programme to trial a set of modelling tools to support end of life care commissioners and planners.

The updated tools are now freely available on the National End of Life Care Intelligence Network website together with a range of supporting materials, including workbooks and case studies from the early adopters.

There are three modelling tools:

• The Cohort Model that identifies the end of life care needs of their population over a 10-year period
• The Skills for Health Functional Analysis tool, which assesses workforce skills required to ensure quality end of life care provision
• The Yorkshire & the Humber Co-Design Model, which assesses how many people dying in hospital could reasonably end life in an alternative care setting and provides costings for Alternative Care Pathways.

Acknowledgement: NHS National End of Life Care Programme

Focusing on the needs of older carers at the end of life

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

Follow this link for fulltext.

Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: Case study

In a nutshell:  A joint initiative which began in August 2010 between the Department of Health and Age UK aims to support older carers of people at the end of life so that preferred place of care and preferred place of death are achieved. Carers practical and emotional needs are addressed. The project includes the development of a toolkit which will be available to other organisations who wish to use this model.  The final report will be available in September 2013.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Acknowledgement: National End of Life Care Programme

Palliative and end of life rapid discharge pathway

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

Follow this link for fulltext.

Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: Case study

In a nutshell: In 2009 the University Hospital of North Staffordshire introduced a palliative and end of life rapid discharge pathway for patients in or approaching the terminal phase of their illness.  Discharge is arranged at the earliest opportunity, usually within days or hours.  It is already having a significant impact with around 45 patients a quarter discharged in this way. Unanticipated benefits include the development of strong working relationships between secondary and primary care,  new services being developed and the development of the role of clinical champions for every clinical area who help spread good practice (there are 50 at present).

Length of publication: 1 webpage

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

Blackpool Rapid Discharge Pathway: Case Study on National End of Life Programme website

Source:  National End of Life Care Programme website

Follow this link for full text

Date of publication: February 2012

Publication type: case study

In a nutshell: Outling the successful  impact of a two-level rapid discharge pathway.  Between November 2009 and September 2011, 166 people were discharged via the fast-track process (that is, within 24 hours), and a  further 32 people were discharged through the four hour process.

Acknowledgement: National End of Life Care Programme

Update for EoLC modelling tools: Functional Analysis

Source: National End of Life Care Intelligence Network

Follow this link for the updated materials on EoLC modelling tools.

Date of publication: January 2012

Publication Type: Website

In a nutshell: Functional analysis is:

• a methodology for competence-based workforce design and associated education
• based on the direct relationship between functions (what needs to be done), the context in which it is done (e.g. high risk, or very predictable) and the skill level required to provide a quality service.

The output from the functional analysis undertaken for National End of Life Care Programme is made up of a series of workbooks which describe:

• the workforce skills required to ensure individuals receive quality care in their last year of life, using nationally recognised and standardised statements of function or competence
• the level of skill required at each stage of the end of life care pathway

Acknowledgement: National End of Life Care Programme