Above average clinical care at RD&E for ‘End of Life’ patients

The quality of clinical care for patients nearing their final hours or days at the RD&E is above the national average across a range of key indicators, according to End of Life Care Audit released on 31 March.

The 2015 audit, carried out by the Royal College of Physicians on behalf of NHS England, found that in the majority of cases RD&E clinicians had documented evidence clearly identifying End of Life patients in the hospital.

The audit also found that in more than 80% of cases, there was documented evidence that RD&E clinicians had given End of Life patients and/or their loved ones the opportunity to talk about their concerns and that their individual needs had been assessed holistically.

The positive results come after the Care Quality Commissioned rated End of Life care at the RD&E as ‘Good’ earlier this year and last year the RD&E became one of only two acute hospitals in the UK to receive National Gold Standards Centre accreditation for the quality of its End of Life care.

Dr Liz Toy, Consultant Lead for End of Life Care at the RD&E, said: “The audit shows good evidence of senior level review and decision-making around End of Life care with evidence of good management of physical symptoms.

“In an ideal world, patients approaching the end of their lives would have discussed with their families, friends and doctors how and where they would wish to be cared for at the point of their dying before they are admitted to hospital. 

“End of Life care is complex and challenging but it presents us as clinicians with real opportunities to work with patients and families to assess and meet their individual needs - physical, psychological, spiritual and cultural - and continuously improve our care for the future.

“These results are encouraging and our aim now is to continue personalising the care we offer to patients at the end of their lives so we truly meet their own needs and those people important to them in their final hours and days. High quality End of Life training and greater access to personalised palliative care are two areas we are focusing on this year.”

• Specialist RD&E End of Life staff will be available to talk to the public about advance care planning and bereavement issues in Dying Matters Awareness Week, May 9th-15th. The team will have display stands in the Oasis restaurant in Level 2 and the main entrance to the hospital in Wonford. There will also be an opportunity for staff and the public to leave messages on a ‘memory tree’ outside the hospital chaplaincy department on Level 2.