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Professional resources

Resources to support end of life care

The RCN believes that end of life care is not just the responsibility of specialist nurses and teams, rather that everyone should be able to care for a loved one as they reach the end of their lives, including all nurses and health care support workers in all settings, the patient鈥檚 family as well as members of the community. 

Everyone has the right to be cared for with dignity and respect as they approach the end of their lives.

RCN resources

Assistance with dying

RCN position statement on assisted dying (2023) This position statement sets out the RCN's neutral position with regard to assisted dying for people with a terminal illness, which has been held since 2009.

Adult Safeguarding: Roles and Competencies for Health Care Staff. (Under review)
One of the most important principles of safeguarding is that it is everyone’s responsibility. Health care staff frequently work with people in their moments of greatest need and can witness health and social inequalities which have a direct impact on the lives of people they care for. This intercollegiate document has been designed to guide professionals and the teams they work with to identify the competencies they need in order to support individuals to receive personalised and culturally sensitive safeguarding. It sets out minimum training requirements along with education and training principles. 

End of life care resources

NICE guidance

. This quality standard covers care for adults (aged 18 and over) who are approaching the end of their life. This includes people who are likely to die within 12 months, people with advanced, progressive, incurable conditions and people with life-threatening acute conditions. It also covers support for their families and carers.

. This guideline covers organising and delivering end of life care services, which provide care and support in the final weeks and months of life (or for some conditions, years), and the planning and preparation for this. It aims to ensure that people have access to the care that they want and need in all care settings. It also includes advice on services for carers.

 This guideline covers the planning and management of end of life and palliative care in for infants, children and young people (aged 0–17 years) with life-limiting conditions.

This guideline covers the clinical care of adults (18 years and over) who are dying during the last 2 to 3 days of life. It aims to improve end of life care for people in their last days of life by communicating respectfully and involving them, and the people important to them, in decisions and by maintaining their comfort and dignity. 

England

. Information and resources for health and social care professionals to improve the quality of services and reduce inequalities in care.

 is a coalition of 32,000 members across England and Wales which aims to help people talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement, and to make plans for the end of life. 

(England and Wales.

 (PDF). This framework sets out the vision to improve end of life care through partnership and collaborative action between organisations at local level throughout England. 

. Resources to support palliative and end of life care.

 (PDF). Advance Care Planning (ACP) for people with dementia in all care settings.

Scotland

. Expert advice, information and support for carers in Scotland.

. Resources to support palliative and end of life care.

. Resources to support palliative and end of life care.

. This strategy sets out a positive, shared vision for dementia in Scotland over the next 10 years. 

. This legislation provides a framework for safeguarding the welfare and managing the finances of adults who lack capacity due to mental disorder or inability to communicate.

 The Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines reflect a consensus of opinion about good practice in the management of adult patients with life limiting illness. They are designed for healthcare professionals from any care setting who are involved in supporting people with a palliative life-limiting condition.

. This website aims to support the education and training needs of those who work with the bereaved in Scotland.

. The SPICT is used to help us identify people at risk of deteriorating and dying with one or multiple advanced conditions for holistic, palliative care needs assessment and care planning.

Northern Ireland

. National campaigns and programmes. 

. This organisation provides a voice for people who are living with a diagnosis of dementia and to reach out to others who have dementia.

 This document sets out the strategic direction for the palliative and end-of-life care of ill and dying children and young people in the North for the next ten years.

 The Northern Ireland-wide Transforming your palliative and end of life care programme aims to design and support the delivery of co-ordinated services to enable people with palliative and end of life care needs to have choice in their place of care, greater access to services and improved outcomes at the end of their lives. 

. Marie Curie is the largest charitable provider of end of life care in Northern Ireland.

. Resources to support palliative and end of life care.

Wales

. Marie Curie services in Wales.

. Resources to support palliative and end of life care.

. This plan covers all aspects of palliative and end of life care, delivered by both primary and secondary care, and also involves specialist palliative care services delivered by the NHS or third sector providers. 

. Policies, plans, reports, standards and guidance on dementia.

Further resources 

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. The National Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Centre in End of Life Care is the national training and coordinating centre for all GSF programmes, enabling generalist frontline staff to provide a gold standard of care for people nearing the end of life.

 Macmillan advocates the government and NHS for better support to enable people to die in the place and manner of their choosing, in as little pain and with as much dignity as possible. See also: free, easy read books on .

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. Regardless of sexual orientation, gender, relationship or family status, everyone’s needs and preferences at the end of life will be unique.

. The NCPC is the umbrella charity for all those involved in palliative, end of life and hospice care in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  

. The PCPLD Network brings together service providers, people with a learning disability and carers working for the benefit of individuals with learning disabilities who have palliative care needs. 

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. Respecting and protecting the rights and wishes of people.

Page last updated - 30/04/2024