last updated: 8/2/2008
Since June 2006, CHE have been commissioned by Central Cheshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) to supporting rolling out the NHS's "End of Life Care (EOLC) Project" for the next 2 years.
The project aims to improve the quality of care for people towards, and at, the end of life and enabling them to live and die in the place of their choice where possible. The aim to achieve this involves promoting education around "end of life care" issues and use of supportive communication and evaluative tools. The core components of the tools are identification of patient (and carer/family) with palliative needs, assessment of those needs, implementing advance care planning, ongoing assessment, coordination and communication, education and a team approach. Care aims to be proactive rather than reactive, thus minimising crisis or inappropriate interventions or in-patient admissions. Carer and family support needs are also an important part of the process. There are 3 tools, adaptable for local use that prompt better communication, continuity of care and evaluation processes.
They are:
The Gold Standards Framework (GSF) - that optimises the organisation, communication and proactive planning for all people in their last phase of life (approx 6-12 months). Its principles are based on effective team communication and continuity in partnership with patients, main carers and wider teams.
For more information visit the GSF website at: www.goldstandardsframework.nhs.uk
The Preferred Priorities for Care document (PPC) - a patient document which provides space for patients thoughts about what matters to them - choices about their care and where they would prefer that to be, towards and at the end of life. A carer/family section highlights who's who and what matters to them too. This document can be adjusted as required. PPC was originally developed for patients who had capacity to make their own decisions about health care choices. The document is currently being revised to consider issues for those who are unable to make their own decisions in line with the "Mental Capacity Act" coming out in Spring of 2007.
For more information visit the PPC website at: www.cancerlancashire.org.uk/ppc
The Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) - developed to take "best" hospice care to other care settings. It is used for care of patients (and support of carers) in the last days (or hours) of life. It promotes good communication with the patient (where able), family and team, that the person is dying. Anticipatory planning for symptom control, physical, psycho-social and spiritual needs are promoted as well as considering the needs of the family/carer after the patients death.
For more information visit the LCP website at: www.mcpcil.org.uk
End of Life Care Programme Website: www.endoflifecare.nhs.uk