As people live longer with more complex needs and public
expectations for better care grow, there is more demand
for choice and individualised care. ADRT (including the
refusal of resuscitation) as part of advance care planning is
one component of how people use their choice to plan
ahead, supported by professionals. The Project Team is a
multi professional group drawn from primary and
secondary care in the East Midlands. The objectives of the
project are threefold: to review existing Advance Directive
policies and evidence base, and to write new ADRT
Specialist Guidance; to implement the Specialist Guidance
supported by a Training Programme for professionals and
to evaluate the implementation of the Specialist Guidance
and Training.
The project team worked closely with the Care Services
Improvement Partnership (CSIP) and sought early
consultation with patients, charitable and voluntary
organisations including Networking Action for Voluntary
Organisations. They were supported by Department of
Health, Help the Hospitals and East Midlands Ambulance
Service funding to achieve the first two objectives. A key
network of local national partnerships was backed up by
media coverage which especially caught the imagination of
the public, with comments including “how long overdue
this new law was” and how pleased they are that
“someone is helping to sort it out”.
The effective implementation and communication strategy
of the project has brought ADRT to the attention of
hundreds of thousands of people, using intelligent
marketing and networking and working with regional and
national news media. This will be realised further with the
development of the project at a national level with
continued key support from the Team. The most important
impact being felt around the country is that patients and
their carers can now be reassured that they can protect
their choice when it really matters. This project has also
raised the profile of the Mental Capacity Act and
demonstrated how it can be a powerful and positive way
to protect individuals in society and allow professionals to
give and demand the best care for the people they serve.
For more information on this project, please contact:
benlobo3@hotmail.com
