This framework has been designed to support GPs to have advance care planning conversations with patients by phone or video, in the context of coronavirus (COVID-19).
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This framework has been designed to support GPs to have advance care planning conversations with patients by phone or video, in the context of coronavirus (COVID-19).
This is a large print version of our Advance Decision pack for those who would might find it easier to read. It contains an Advance Decision form and comprehensive guidance notes explaining everything you need to know to complete it.
This Advance Decision pack contains an Advance Decision form and comprehensive guidance notes explaining everything you need to know to complete it.
This Advance Statement allows you to make a record of your wishes, feelings, beliefs and values, which can be used if you later become unwell and need care or medical treatment.
Our new report explores what we’ve learned about DNACPR decisions before and during the Coronavirus pandemic. It comes as the Care Quality Commission publishes its review into the use of DNR decisions over the past year, which we also contributed to.
This practical guide includes the information you need to understand how treatment and care decisions are made, how you can plan ahead to ensure you stay in control of these decisions, and who to talk to and share your wishes with.
This booklet aims to support you to talk about your wishes for care and treatment with your family, friends and doctor.
This new booklet is designed to help people who have been recently diagnosed with a terminal illness find the information they need and ask questions, so that they can make informed decisions about their treatment and care – helping them to live well in the time they have left.
A new research report reveals mismatch between Clinical Commissioning Group policies and the reality faced by patients. Patients report doctors being ill-equipped to support them to plan ahead for their future care and treatment.
New research reveals that GPs lack sufficient awareness and understanding of Living Wills, with potentially damaging consequences for patients.
This factsheet explains what an Advance Decision is, what it can and can’t be used for, and the steps involved in completing one. This is applicable to people living in England and Wales.
This factsheet explains why it is a good idea to regularly review or update your Advance Decision, and how to do it.
This factsheet will to help make sure people are aware of your Advance Decision.
This factsheet outlines the differences between Advance Decisions and Health and Welfare Lasting Powers of Attorney. It explains how they work together and what happens if you want to have both documents. It is for people in England and Wales.
This factsheet is for people with a mental illness, or a history of mental illness, who want to understand when their Advance Decision will be followed.
This factsheet explains what an Advance Directive is, what it can and cannot be used for, and the steps involved in completing one. This is applicable to people living in Scotland.
This is a bilingual version of our Advance Statement. It is in English and Portuguese. It allows you to make a record of your wishes, feelings, beliefs and values, which can be used if you later become unwell and need care or medical treatment.
This is a bilingual version of our Advance Statement. It is in English and Spanish. It allows you to make a record of your wishes, feelings, beliefs and values, which can be used if you later become unwell and need care or medical treatment.
In late 2011/early 2012 Compassion in Dying contacted all Ambulance Trusts in the UK with a Freedom of Information request, which asked questions on their Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) policy, end-of-life care registration systems, out-of-hours care and the use of Advance Decisions (formerly known as living wills).
Prompted by callers to the Information Line – who voiced concerns that paramedics might not have access to their Advance Decision – we contacted all Ambulance Trusts in England and Wales to find out what systems they have in place to record patients’ medical treatment preferences in the event that they lose capacity and whether patient preferences are adhered to.
An Analysis of Calls to the Compassion in Dying End-of-Life Rights Information Line was conducted by Loughborough University. This study, which looked at in excess of 200 calls to Compassion in Dying, found that a major barrier to patients exercising choice was doctors’ failure to engage with patients about their Advance Decision and the lack of systems in place to record them.
An Analysis of Calls to the Compassion in Dying End-of-Life Rights Information Line was conducted by Loughborough University. This study, which looked at in excess of 200 calls to Compassion in Dying, found that a major barrier to patients exercising choice was doctors’ failure to engage with patients about their Advance Decision and the lack of systems in place to record them.
We wanted to learn more about whether patient choices at the end of life are respected if set out in an Advance Decision. We conducted a systematic review of research evidence which examined: To what extent are the medical treatment wishes laid out in preference tools respected?
A Parliamentary briefing for the House of Commons estimates day debate on end-of-life care, scheduled to be held Wednesday 2nd March 2016
On Wednesday 1st March there will be a short debate in the House of Lords on end of life care. Compassion in Dying welcomes this debate, and has written this briefing on it
In order to improve end-of-life care it is crucial to understand what patients and carers want from care providers. Secondary analyses of qualitative interviews with people caring for a dying relative were conducted to examine what co-ordinated, person-centred care at the end of life looks like, with an emphasis on the carer’s perspective.
In order to ensure our work is evidence based, we keep up-to-date with current policy and research. Alongside this we conduct our own research and information-gathering. Our Policy Manifesto sets out the challenges we have identified to enabling greater patient choice at the end of life, and what we envisage as the way forward.
This factsheet explains what cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is, CPR success rates, how to refuse CPR, what a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) form is, how to get a DNAR form, and how a DNAR differs from an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment.
A report which examines whether patients had record, or made known, their wishes recorded and if this impacted on whether they died well or badly.
A pilot service in East London was evaluated 2013/2014. Numbers reached, learnings from the project, case studies and how this has informed the roll out to seven Age UKs across England are reported on.
Our new report details findings and recommendations from a pioneering project aimed at supporting Lambeth’s Portuguese-speaking communities to consider, document and share their preferences for care and treatment, thereby facilitating more meaningful discussions between Portuguese-speaking people and health and social care professionals.
The purpose of this toolkit is to support healthcare professionals’ understanding of Advance Decisions.
This is a secondary analysis of interviews with patients about their experiences of living with terminal illness, with a view to understanding how they approach decision making at the end of life.
Through our information and outreach services we have supported over 25,000 people to make decisions about their treatment and plan their care. This report shares some of our learning.
In 2011, Compassion in Dying conducted a poll with YouGov on knowledge of end of life rights and choices. This poll found that 60% would want comfort care only if they were dying with no prospect of recovery in the last days and weeks of life, however only 3% had an Advance Decision which could state this. 53% wrongly believed that they had a legal right to make these kinds of decisions on behalf of their next of kin.
A poll commissioned by Compassion in Dying examining how people want to be treated at the end of life, and looking at people’s knowledge of their end-of-life rights and choices.
This factsheet offers key tips and facts for filling in a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare form. It is for people in England and Wales.
This factsheet explains what a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare is, how one can be used, and how to make one. This is for people living in England and Wales.
This factsheet is written in Bangla. It explains the ways you can plan ahead for your treatment and care. It includes information about Advance Statements, Advance Decisions and Lasting Powers of Attorney for Health and Welfare.
You can also view this factsheet in other languages.
This factsheet is written in Bengali. It explains the ways you can plan ahead for your treatment and care. It includes information about Advance Statements, Advance Decisions and Lasting Powers of Attorney for Health and Welfare.
You can also view this factsheet in other languages.
This factsheet is written in Gujarati. It explains the ways you can plan ahead for your treatment and care. It includes information about Advance Statements, Advance Decisions and Lasting Powers of Attorney for Health and Welfare.
You can also view this factsheet in other languages.
This factsheet is written in Hindi. It explains the ways you can plan ahead for your treatment and care. It includes information about Advance Statements, Advance Decisions and Lasting Powers of Attorney for Health and Welfare.
You can also view this factsheet in other languages.
This factsheet is written in Punjabi. It explains the ways you can plan ahead for your treatment and care. It includes information about Advance Statements, Advance Decisions and Lasting Powers of Attorney for Health and Welfare.
You can also view this factsheet in other languages.
This factsheet is written in Urdu. It explains the ways you can plan ahead for your treatment and care. It includes information about Advance Statements, Advance Decisions and Lasting Powers of Attorney for Health and Welfare.
You can also view this factsheet in other languages.
This factsheet is written in Portuguese. It explains the ways you can plan ahead for your treatment and care. It includes information about Advance Statements, Advance Decisions and Lasting Powers of Attorney for Health and Welfare.
You can also view this factsheet in other languages.
This factsheet is written in Spanish. It explains the ways you can plan ahead for your treatment and care. It includes information about Advance Statements, Advance Decisions and Lasting Powers of Attorney for Health and Welfare.
You can also view this factsheet in other languages.
My Life, My Decision was an ambitious, multifaceted programme of work aiming was to support people aged over 50 to think about and plan their care in advance, helping to ensure they have the death that is right for them.
This report is a summary of key learning and recommendations from our My Life, My Decision outreach programme.
New research has revealed that one in five dying patients receive treatment their friends and family say they would not have wanted, with almost half (47%) feeling their loved one had a bad death.
Most people have some form of opinion about how they would like to be treated at the end of their lives, regardless of their identity or background. For LGBT people in particular, your identity might have an impact on the treatment and care you would like to receive.
This factsheet explains what you can do if there is a disagreement over
how someone should be treated or cared for. It includes information about
how treatment and care decisions are made on someone’s behalf if they
are unable to make or communicate a decision, and what steps you can
take if you disagree with the person in charge of their care.
Our new report details findings and recommendations from a pioneering project aimed at engaging the South Asian community in planning ahead for end-of-life care and treatment.
This report reveals that Ambulance Trusts across the UK vary significantly in their policies and practices regarding advance care planning documentation.
Our new report details findings and recommendations from a pioneering project aimed at engaging the Somali community in planning ahead for end-of-life care and treatment.
A YouGov poll, commissioned by Compassion in Dying, has found that 82% of people would want to be in control of life-prolonging medical treatments should they lose mental capacity. Only 7% would rather these decisions be made by a medical professional. However, the poll also revealed that only 4% of people have an Advance Decision or have appointed a Lasting Power of Attorney for health and welfare to ensure their medical treatment preferences can be respected.
