Dear Mr O’Brien

I am writing to you as Chair of the End-of-Life Care Standing Committee for XXXXX hospital.

In your letter to all healthcare staff on 6 February 2014 you invited ideas and suggestions to improve care for our patients.

I’d like to share with you some of our hospital’s initiatives to improve end-of-life care.

·  We are implementing the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Quality Standards for End-of-Life Care

·  We have an end-of-life care standing committee in our hospitals which is represented by xxx and meets xx times a year

·  Along with over 30 other acute hospitals, we are a member of the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Network

·  We are using the Hospice Friendly Hospital resources to promote dignity and respect for patients at end of life- see images overleaf

·  We have upgraded family rooms…insert photo

·  We have piloted the National End-of-Life Care Audit & Review system This system was developed in partnership with the Palliative Clinical Care Programme. It proactively seeks feedback from bereaved families on the care that their relative received. ?quotes

·  Training/education …

·  Remembrance services…

·  Bereaved parents support days…

·  Letter of condolence for families / sympathy card…

·  Post mortems…

·  Bereavement leaflets…

Insert positive quotes from staff/families

Insert photos

However there is still a lot for us to do to ensure we give the best possible care to our patients and families.

We would like to take this opportunity to advocate for:

-  Staff to be released for training on palliative and end of life care

-  The inclusion of communications training in the ongoing continuing professional development for staff. Examples include Dealing with bad news and Final Journeys workshops

-  The prohibition of the use of plastic bags for returning deceased patients’ belongings to families

-  A high-level commitment to roll out the End-of-Life Care Audit and Review System nationally

-  The use of the Design & Dignity Guidelines for all new buildings and refurbishment projects

-  Greater availability of private spaces for private conversations between staff and patients and their families. Bad news should never be broken on corridors.

-  Dedicated End-of-Life Care Coordinators to coordinate the implementation of the Quality Standards for End-of-Life Care

- 

Thank you for the opportunity to ….

Best wishes

Name

Chair of Standing Committee

/ End of Life Spiral
This spiral is displayed in the clinical area whenever a person is very close to death or has died. It is a signal to all staff that an intensely personal and profound event is happening for the patient and their family.
/ Bed/Trolley Drape
This is a special drape to be placed over the body of the deceased person to promote a dignified ceremony as the deceased patient is transferred off the ward/out of hospital.
/ Family Handover Bag
We use this bag as a dignified way of returning the deceased patient’s belongings to the family.
/ Sympathy Card
The Quality Standards for End-of-Life Care in Hospitals recommend sending a sympathy card / letter of condolence within two weeks of the patient’s death and before the hospital bill.
In our hospital we send a card from a staff member who cared for the patient or their family.