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NICE End of life care for adults quality standard 2011

Compassion in Dying is an endorsing organisation of NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) Quality Standards for End of Life Care for Adults. This document, which is aimed at health and social care professionals, managers and commissioners as well as patients and carers, details how the delivery of care for dying adults should be measured across the NHS in England. These measures should inform practitioners etc. on how care should be delivered and what key areas of end-of-life care need addressing.

Of particular importance is that patient preferences for care and medical treatment at the end of life take centre stage - with a focus on strong communication between healthcare teams and patients so that patients get the care they would like. The standard also covers support for the families and carers of loved ones who are dying. As an endorsing organisation we will contribute to any updates of the Quality Standard.

Advance Decision toolkit for health professionals

The Advance Decision toolkit explains the implications of the Mental Capacity Act for health professionals, and sets out good practice.

The toolkit is designed for those who might be involved in implementing a patient's Advance Decision - for example: doctors and nurses in an acute hospital setting. It may also be relevant for to health professionals working in the community setting, and general practitioners who may be approached by patients seeeking advice on drafting an Advance Decision.

Advance Decisions are statements made by adults with capacity, in which they can make decisions about all treatment they may receive. They may be used to note down their wish to refuse (but not request) life-sustaining medical treatment at a point in the future, in case the individual loses the capacity to make such decisions.

While the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) puts all Advance Decisions to refuse treatment on a legal footing, Advance Decisions that refuse life-sustaining treatment - formerly called living wills - must meet additional requirements within the MCA, and raise particular issues for health professionals.

download the Advance Decision toolkit

If you are looking for a particular area of information that is not covered here, please contact us.

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News

31 Jan 2012

Compassion in Dying welcomes Council of Europe resolution Compassion in Dying, the leading provider of free Advance Decisions in the UK, has welcomed a new Council of Europe resolution entitled Protecting human rights and

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Supporting your choices at the end of life

Health professionals