Research shows between 50 and 75 per cent of people say they would prefer to die at home, but in practice, well over half have been dying in hospitals, often because of lack of advance planning or knowledge of their wishes.
However, while the average rate of hospital deaths nationwide is 53 per cent, in North Somerset it is 41 per cent and continues to decrease.
For those patients on the local electronic system – about 1,000 a year - the rate of dying in their place of choice – be that at home, in a hospice or in hospital - is 80 per cent.
Palliative Care Consultant Dr Abel developed the system in conjunction with IT supplier Adastra and it was originally piloted between April 2009 and April 2011 as part of the Department of Health’s End of Life Locality Registers programme.
The success of the pilot led to it being fully deployed in North Somerset in March last year and it is now being rolled out in the rest of the South West.
Dr Abel said: “The electronic system helps us to identify and record patients who have chronic life-limiting illness and makes it easier for health care professionals, patients and their families to think about the future.
“Discussions need to take place in a sensitive way to help people decide where they would like to be for the final part of their illness and what choices they would like to make about their care.
“Once these choices have been made and documented, they need to be available to the broader health community.
“The system can be seen by GPs, district nurses, community matrons, out-of-hours services, hospital teams, the hospice, ambulance service and Emergency Department.
“Its use is vital to allow patients to die with dignity and care in the place of their choice.”
For further information contact Caroline Welch on 01934 647091