Planning for the End A Review of the Quality of Care Provided to Adult Patients towards the End of Life

The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death has just released a new report: Planning for the End A Review of the Quality of Care Provided to Adult Patients towards the End of Life. 

There are five big findings: 

1. Not enough patients had access to early palliative care alongside existing treatments to improve symptoms and quality of life
2. Death and dying was not discussed as often as it could have been. More people need to have their end of life care wishes recorded.  
3. Care co-ordinators are an accepted standard in cancer services but were less common for other advanced chronic conditions. 
4. Specialist palliative care services were not always available in hospitals nor involved when needed. 
5. Training to identify when palliative or end of life care will help was not always provided or available.