End of Life Care

Advance Care Planning

Have you heard of Advance Care Planning? Advance Care Planning is one way of making people aware of your wishes and preferences.

Advance Care Planning does not always need to be in writing. However health care professionals involved in your care and members of your family may find it helpful if your wishes and preferences are in writing. By letting people know about your wishes you may have an opportunity to discuss your views with those close to you. Advance Care Planning is an entirely voluntary process and you can change your mind at any time.

Advance Care Planning booklet

Gold Standards Framework (GSF)

Have you heard of the Gold Standards Framework (GSF) and how it may be able to help you or a member of your family?

The Gold Standards Framework was developed in 2004 and centres on the individual needs of the patient as well as their family.

You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of your life. And we will do all we can, not only to let you die peacefully but to help you to live until you die.

The Gold Standards Framework (GSF) is a nationally recognised best practice process which has been adopted by all of the GP practices within Torbay.

It aims to help them to provide the highest standard of care possible for all patients who may be in the last years of life. The Gold Standards Framework involves the primary care team, your Doctor, other staff at your GP practice, district nurses, and other health and social care professionals who may be involved in your care, such as an occupational therapist or a physiotherapist, working together with you and your family.

The Gold Standards Framework helps to ensure care and best practice is planned and provided in a co-ordinated manner. This ensures the quality and effectiveness of care for everyone in the last years of life regardless of age, diagnosis or where they live, either in their own home, a Care Home or with their family.

Patients and their families deserve the best care – the ‘gold standard’ of care, high quality, reliable and consistent support. Gold Standards Framework involves working together to try to avoid ‘crises’ and unwanted hospital admissions. ‘Crises’ may be a last minute prescription panic, a troublesome symptom or something more major.

Patients and carers views and suggestions have been included in the Gold Standards Framework.

If you would like more information regarding the Gold Standards Framework, we suggest you contact your own GP Practice, or visit the Gold Standard Framework website.

We feel that is very important to respect what people tell us about what they want to happen at the end of their life. To help us do this we have introduced an electronic information system.

Carers

Are you a carer? Do you care for some-one with a life limiting illness?

If so, these courses have been specifically designed for carers looking after someone with a life limiting illness and may be helpful to you. Signposts for Carers have developed an information sheet which aims to ensure that, as an unpaid family carer, you are aware of all of the services which are available across Torbay which can support you in your caring role.

Dying Matters

Have you heard of Dying Matters? The Dying Matters Coalition is led by the National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC), which is a charity and is supported by the Department of Health.

Dying Matters is a broad based and inclusive national coalition with nearly 12,000 members, which aims to change public knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards death, dying and bereavement, and their understanding of End of Life Care.

Their mission is to “support changing knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards death, dying and bereavement, and through to make ‘living and dying well’ the norm”. To achieve this, there will need to be a fundamental change in society so that death, dying and bereavement is accepted as a natural part of everyone’s life cycle. You may find the Dying Matters website helpful.

Useful links

If you would like more information, you may find the following directory of websites helpful, please click onto the bold blue highlighted word for a direct link: