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Communicate
Why communication is important?
Good communication means people have choice and control over the way their care is planned and delivered, based on ‘what matters’ to them and their individual needs and preferences.
Resources
Serious Illness Conversation Guide : Use this to talk to patients about their goals and values, set up the conversation, assess the patient’s illness understanding and information preferences, share prognosis, explore key topics and document the conversation
Serious Illness Conversation Guide
Guidance from the RCP around holding honest conversations about the future
Personalised Care and Support Planning
MyWishes
MyWishes is a free to use, ‘tech for good’ platform. It will empower you to write your Last Will & Testament, safeguard your Digital Legacy, plan your Funeral, curate a Bucket List, leave Goodbye Messages and make plans for your future health and social care within an Advance Care Plan.
Hold regular MST meetings to review needs and update plans:
Gold Standards Framework (GSF) supportive / palliative care register
Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)
A multidisciplinary team (MDT) in palliative care consists of various healthcare professionals who collaborate to address the comprehensive needs of patients with life-limiting illnesses. MDT may consist of, but not limited to, Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Professionals, Social Worker, Psycologist, Spiritual Care, Family Support,
Record key decisions clearly in the electronic patient record using EPaCCS
Electronic Palliative Care Coordination System – mechanism for recording conversations/outcomes and care plans using coding in Electronic Patient Records (EPR). Coordinating care for vulnerable people in the last stages of life is challenging, especially when so many different agencies are involved. GPs, hospitals, hospices and the ambulance service in the North West are working on using an Electonic Palliative Care Coordination System (or EPaCCS) to improve end of life care. The constantly updated record means everyone has the latest information on a patient’s medical condition and medication as well as their wishes.
VIDEO DESCRIPTOR: This video reports on how GPs, hospitals, hospices and the ambulance service in the North West are using an Electonic Palliative Care Coordination System (or EPaCCS) to improve end of life care
End of Life Care – EPaCCS system – YouTube
VIDEO DESCRIPTOR: In this video Dr Sinead Clark, GP and Clinical Lead talks through the principles of EPaCCS and shares some case studies.
Maintain up to date palliative care register using GSF principles
The National GSF Centre’s guidance for clinicians to support earlier identification of patients nearing the end of life, leading to improved proactive person-centred care.
Education to support communication
Please find useful updates, information and resources below
The End-of-life Care for All (e-ELCA) programme is an elearning library which provides resources to enhance the training and education of the health and social care workforce so that well-informed high-quality care can be delivered by confident and competent staff and volunteers to support people wherever they happen to be.
Please select the button above to access e-ELCA
Awaiting Content
Skills for Health and Skills for Care Core Skills Education and Training Framework for End of Life Care.
A collection of handouts, reading materials, and other tools that complement the No Conversation Too Tough training programme.