Across the East Midlands work is continuing, to further develop our end of life care services and the vision we outlined in our “Evidence to Excellence” document. Agreeing regional unified DNACPR for adults is part of this work.
(Download from: http://www.excellence.eastmidlands.nhs.uk)
Throughout England, and at regional and local level, work is happening in relation to improving patient experience and organisational working around DNACPR and we are writing to you as health, social care, voluntary and 3rd sector leads to seek your support for this work in the East Midlands. This work is happening in conjunction with the National Programme team for End of Life Care and closely following work undertaken in the South Central Strategic health Authority region.
We have recently established a Task and Finish group as part of our Evidence to Excellence priorities for 2010-2011. The purpose of this group is to agree the content and format of thje following three objectives by March 2011: (We are not agreeing implementation across organisations at this time)
- Regional unified principles for DNACPR
- A regional Unified decision-making framework
- A regional unified DNACPR form
In relation to this we have also recently written to health, social care, voluntary and 3rd sector organisations to seek your support in this important regional work and given the address of this online area for people to access key documents to help them understand our work and enable them to comment on key documents. You are welcome to join our Task and Finish group, alternatively you may wish to email your feedback adn views.
Why have unified DNACPR principles and documentation across the East Midlands?
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Ensure a more robust and consistent approach towards End Of Life Care and allowing natural death where appropriate across the region with an agreed underlying set of principles and that all people dying in the East Midlands can be confident that all health and social care professionals will be operating to the same DNACPR principles with transferable paperwork in place.
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Reduced need for ambulance emergency transport where this is not considered apporpriate.
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To standardise information and make this easier to access by EMAS staff at the time of an emergency.
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Ensure patient and carer views are sought and that choice around end of life is incorporated into unified documentation related to DNACPR. As part of this to improve the quality of care assessed by people’s expressed needs and wishes being met.
Why your support is important:
This is a significant piece of work that will involve change for many organisations who have already developed policies. We wish you to nominate a lead for your organisation as a point of contact to engage in this process and support work to unify principles and documentation around DNACPR. We are particularly interested to engage with 3rd sector, social care and voluntary organisations.
Senior guidance will be needed to ensure that existing resuscitation groups are aware of the process and will be actively involved in the subsequent implementation process. Once in place we anticipate a significant improvement in patient care and will include tools for organisations to audit progress.
Can we ask that organisations please review these and comment by Friday 26th November 2010 in order that we have time to take your views and suggestions into account.
