Planning the right end-of-life care for you and your family

As part of our commitment to excellent end-of-life care we use the Gold Standards Framework (GSF) to deliver the best quality of care for people moving towards the end of life.

“It’s about living well until you die.”
—(Gold Standards Framework)

What does the GSF mean for you?

The GSF supports our doctors, nurses and members of the healthcare team to provide the best standard of care for you in the last years of life. It is our way of saying that we will listen to you and care for you in a way that is right for you.

As you approach the last year of your life your doctor or nurse may talk to you about your needs. Talking about death can be difficult but the team caring for you will sensitively explore what might happen and assure you of their support.

It will involve talking to you and your family about what is important as you move towards the end of life. We will help you and your family to ensure your wishes are met and you are supported to die in your preferred place of care.

It is an opportunity for you to be involved in developing your own personal plan so that you will get the best care, now and in the future.

Thinking about your future

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is about developing your personal plan so that you can plan ahead involving you and your family in all decisions about your treatment and care. Your plan will include the things that are most important to you, and often include any physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs.

How we will improve your care

We will:

• ensure that you are able to spend more time in your preferred place of care and with those you care about
• work with you and your family and carers to meet your needs
• work closely with your GP, district nurses, palliative care specialists, care homes and all those caring for you
• enable care that focusses on you in the final days of life, using an agreed personal plan of care with you, your family and those who care for you
• improve communication to ensure that your wishes, preferences and needs are given priority and met.

What do I need to do now?

Speak to a member of your healthcare team about this leaflet, your concerns and what is important to you.

Involving your family

It is not unusual for you to be concerned about your loved ones. The GSF encourages doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to support your family and those you love, so they can support you at this important time in your life. We will talk directly to you and involve your loved ones with your permission.

Working together for you

The GSF helps to improve communication between you and everyone involved in your care. Many GP practices, community services and care homes work to deliver the principles of the GSF. With your permission, we will share your personal plan with others so they can better support you and we encourage you to talk to those caring for you about the GSF.

Our commitment to you

• When you are moving towards the end-of-life, we will sensitively support you and your family to ensure your needs and wishes are met, and you are enabled to die in your preferred place of care.
• We will offer you and your family the opportunity to be involved in planning your future care. This will include an assessment of your needs and preferences and a care plan reflecting these choices.
• We will work to ensure that you and your family receive excellent care in accordance with your wishes, at all times of day and night. We will work with our community partners to ensure this happens.
• We will offer you personalised care, based on your wishes and needs. This will include attending to your physical, social, emotional, spiritual and religious needs.
• We recognise the importance of your family, your friends and your support network and that they have the right to have their own needs assessed and reviewed and to have a carer’s plan.
• In order to care for you and your family we will ensure that all staff and volunteers working in the Trust are aware of the issues surrounding care at the end of life, in particular the importance of excellence in communicating.
• We will participate in research in order to improve patient and family care at the end of life.

GSF helps us to give you the highest standard of care—a gold standard of care focussing on your own needs, wishes and priorities.

Useful websites

• Gold Standards Framework website
• National Council for Palliative Care

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the first London teaching hospital to use the principles of the GSF in all our wards to provide the best end-of-life care.