Sir Mike gave the keynote speech at the Trust’s End of Life Care launch attended by more than 100 health professionals and patients and commended Weston for establishing an electronic End of Life Register – one of only eight in England.
Cancer “Tsar” Sir Mike spoke first about the national End of Life Care Strategy, which was launched in July 2008 and the progress that had been made since.
He said the strategy was needed because the quality of care for people who were approaching the end of their lives had been variable and many people were unable to die in the place of their choice.
For example, between 50 and 75 per cent of people say they would prefer to die at home, but in practice well over half die in hospital.
Sir Mike said the End of Life Care Strategy aimed to bring about a “step change” in quality of palliative care and to enhance choice for patients, while also delivering on the Government’s plan to double its investment in palliative care.
And he said that in only 18 months “very significant steps” had been taken, including the establishment of End of Life Registers.
Weston Area Health NHS Trust is one of eight pilot sites in England for the End of Life Register.
Weston Palliative Care Consultant Dr Julian Abel explained: “The register 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 electronic End of Life Register can be seen by GPs, district nurses, community matrons, out-of-hours services, hospital teams, the hospice, ambulance service and Emergency Department.
“The use of the register is vital to allow patients to die with dignity and care in the place of their choice.”
Also during his visit, Sir Mike toured the Weston General Hospital’s Oncology (Cancer) Day Unit, speaking to staff and patients.
For further information, please contact Caroline Welch on 01934 647091
��� m HW�PL� the sense that they were like a family – all the staff seemed to know each other and work together – perhaps that is something other places can learn from.
“To me, the staff and volunteers at Weston hospital embodied the ethos of the Dignity in Care campaign, each person making their own contribution, however small, to make things better.”
Weston Area Health NHS Trust Chief Executive Lorene Read said: “We were delighted when Sir Michael accepted Jayne’s invitation to see us in Weston and very much enjoyed showing him our work on privacy and dignity issues.
“We are very pleased that the visit left him with such a positive view and that he has chosen to share that in his national report.”
A new Dignity Action Day and a £50,000 Bright Ideas Grant (BIG) for innovative projects that encourage dignity in care were announced alongside the report by Health Secretary Andy Burnham.
The dignity day of action will take place on 25 February, 2010.
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health, said: “Sir Michael’s report is an invaluable insight into the experiences of people who rely on support and those who dedicate their lives to helping others.
“Our dignity day of action will be chance for everyone to get involved in promoting dignity for all in care and our new Bright Ideas Grant will help new projects to promote dignity.”
* To find out more and read My Year as National Dignity Ambassador by Sir Michael Parkinson visit www.dignityincare.org.uk.
For further information, contact Caroline Welch on 01934 647091