Joint RCGP and RCN End of Life Care Patient Charter
"For the care of people nearing the end
of their life"
As part of the implementation project for the UK
wide RCGP End of Life Care (EOLC) Strategy adopted by the Royal
College of General Practitioners (RCGP) in 2009, a Patient Charter
‘for the care of people nearing the end of their life` was launched
on 1 June 2011.
This Charter is a collaboration
between the Patient Partnership Group and the EOLC English Working
Group of the RCGP with the Royal College of Nursing. The Charter
has been distributed to all UK GP practices via the RCGP
Newsletter.
The Charter is a product of the RCGP
EOLC English Working Group and is applicable to England only,
although it has been shared with the working groups for Northern
Ireland, Scotland and Wales. These groups will decide whether to
adopt and/or adapt it to reflect their own distinct
perspectives.
This is one of a number of outputs
emerging from the project to find practical ways of implementing
the key recommendations of the RCGP EOLC Strategy. The Charter
represents an ideal of best practice that all patients should be
able to expect from their GP and Primary Health Care Team.
Following the launch of the Charter, a
dedicated microsite has been launched that provides practical
support and guidance for GPs and other primary health care
professionals, enabling them to provide the best possible care for
people nearing the end of their life. It has been developed in
response to requests from grassroots GPs and practice nurses during
consultation sessions in 2009 and 2010. The microsite is a vehicle
for highlighting current developments, with practical guidance,
links to existing educational and training resources, and
signposting to other useful websites and resources.
Suggested uses of the Patient
Charter
- To stimulate discussion of team as to whether happy to
sign up
- Discuss with care homes for their residents
- Discuss training needed to help support this
- Part of re-accreditation exercise
- Display poster on wall
- Discuss with patient group
- Discuss with individual patients & families on the
palliative care register
- Use as part of Quality Recognition of next stage GSF
Training (see GSF
website)
End of Life Care Patient
Charter 
Letter to GPs
introducing the RCGP End of Life Care Strategy
Please direct any queries to:
circ@rcgp.org.uk
020 3188 7597