Plan To Improve End Of Life Care

November 9th 2009

Primary care should take the lead in improving care for dying patients - recognising that the end of life can be increasingly drawn out for many people, GPs have said.

The Royal College of GPs says the aim is to develop "ante-mortem" care.

It launched proposals for an "end of life care strategy" following its annual conference in Glasgow last week.

The college says there are ten areas for more work including best practice, education, research and improving out of hours palliative care.

It also wants to strengthen team-working with nurses and endorse the use of endorse the use of advance care planning.

Chairman Professor Steve Field said 70 per cent of people do not die in a place of their choice - and 40 per cent of deaths in hospital did not need to be there.

He said: "Providing end of life care is one of the most important and challenging tasks faced by GPs. Adopting this new strategy will help us develop good practice and promote excellence in this vital area of patient care.

"There are no second chances with end of life care - we have a responsibility to get it right first time. This new strategy will help make this happen, and ensure that patients receive the best possible care, for them, at this enormously difficult time."

Professor Keri Thomas, who developed the strategy, said: "The adoption of this RCGP End of Life Care Strategy will lead the way in defining, enabling and pioneering good practice in end of life care, reflecting the crucial role that GPs play now and in future.

"This is more than just care for the dying, vital as this is. This is ‘ante-mortem' care - in the same way as we need ante-natal care - for people in the final year or so of life."

* The conference also saw the launch of a new foundation to support the professional development of primary care teams.

The General Practice Foundation aims to support non-doctor members of primary care teams, including nurses, practice managers and physician assistants.

RCGP secretary Dr Maureen Baker said: "Having a Foundation within the RCGP that is dedicated to the support and development of general practice nurses, practice managers and physician assistants will ensure more quality and consistency in the professional development of the three professions, as well as giving them a stronger voice in the future development of general practice across the UK."

 

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