In the UK over the past decade, there has been an increasing focus on patient choice within health and social care settings and the fact that patient choice over place of death should be considered a priority.
‘Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care’ a national framework for local action 2021-2026’ is a new national framework that urges local NHS organisations and local authorities to act to improve end of life care for people of all ages.
The partnership is made up of statutory bodies including NHS England and charities and groups representing patients and professionals, and they are committed to ensuring that these palliative and end of life care ambitions are realised for patients.
The framework sets out six ambitions or principles for how people near the end of their lives should be cared for. They build on the positive progress made since the publication of the Department for Health’s 2008 Strategy for End of Life Care.
The six ambitions for palliative and end of life care are:
- Each person is seen as an individual
- Each person gets fair access to care
- Maximising comfort and wellbeing
- Care is coordinated
- All staff are prepared to care
- Each community is prepared to help
References
Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care: A national framework for local action 2021-2026 https://acpopc.csp.org.uk/system/files/documents/2021-05/FINAL_Ambitions-for-Palliative-and-End-of-Life-Care_2nd_edition.pdf