4.1.48 End of Life Care

1. Introduction

It is an unfortunate fact that some of the people receiving support from Hull City Council will have life limiting conditions or terminal illnesses, and some will die whilst in the care of our services. This chapter provides guidance and procedural information for staff to ensure people (and their families) receive the best possible care to enable them to die a peaceful and dignified death, and that their relatives feel consulted and supported during a difficult time.

2. The End of Life

People who have a life-limiting or terminal illness may differ in the time in which they become seriously ill. Some may become ill very quickly; while others may exceed estimates by medical staff. Staff must adapt to the person’s changing circumstances and needs, and those of their relatives, according to the progression of their illness. The term End of Life, therefore, encompasses a period from 12 months up until the point of death.

The End of Life care and support plan – which is drawn up in conjunction with the person (wherever possible), identified relatives, partner agency staff, the keyworker and their manager where appropriate –  should be regularly reviewed with all parties to take into account the progression of the person’s illness, their needs and expressed wishes, and the views of their relatives. See Section 7, Assessment, Care Planning, and Review.

3. Discussions as the End of Life Approaches

By the very nature of the matter, discussing death with people and families is often a very difficult conversation, which requires great sensitivity and understanding of the situation. This applies even when people have been diagnosed with terminal conditions and are aware of their prognosis. It is the responsibility of medical staff, either the GP or hospital doctor, to initially inform people and relatives of the diagnosis and prognosis. Whilst medical staff may often provide an estimate as to how long a person may continue to live (if they are asked to do so), it should be stressed that no one can accurately predict when a person will die. It is the role of other involved staff, particularly the person’s key worker, to support them and their relatives once this information has been communicated to them. It is vital to ensure that the needs and desires of person and their close relatives are discussed, however difficult it may be. Communication should be open and honest, and take place in a private room or their own home. Key workers or named nurses should be sufficiently experienced before being required to conduct such discussions with people and relatives (see Section 11, Training and Supporting Staff). The response of the person and their relatives should be communicated to other staff at meetings (and handover periods if an inpatient), to ensure they are also informed about how best to provide appropriate and individual care and support in such circumstances.

There may be an added complexity for people who have learning difficulties or neurological impairments which impact on their ability to understand what is happening to them, and what doctors and other partners are trying to communicate to them. There should be no presumption about a lack of mental capacity however; a Best Interests assessment should always be completed and an Independent Advocate involved in their care (see Section 6, Consent).

All discussions with people and their relatives should be documented in case records, particularly when any specific wishes or concerns are expressed, including cultural or religious needs. The key worker / named nurse should always take action in relation to such, and decisions or feedback communicated to them as soon as possible in order to reduce anxiety or distress which will inevitably accompany a person’s end of life. Discussions should include administration of fluids and nutrition, and also medication – including pain relief, particularly when administered by syringe drivers. These are often areas of care that have been noted to cause relatives distress.

3.1 Do not resuscitate

Everyone has the right to refuse CPR if they do not want to be resuscitated if they stop breathing or their heart stops beating. Where the decision has been made in advance it will be recorded on a special form and placed in the person’s records. It is known as a Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decision, or a DNACPR order. A DNACPR order is not permanent; it can be changed at any time.

3.2 People in a vegetative state

In July 2018, the Supreme Court ruled  (An NHS Trust and others v Y) that where a person is in a vegetative state, their family will no longer have to consult a judge when deciding to stop their end of life care if the medical team are also in agreement.  Even if the person has not made an advance decision to refuse treatment, where the family and medical team agree it is in the person’s best interests, artificial feeding and hydration can be stopped. See also Appendix 1: An NHS Trust and others (Respondents) v Y (by his litigation the Official Solicitor) and Another (Appellants) [2018] UKSC 46.

4. Addressing Inequalities in End of Life Care

Most people receive care at the end of their life that is good quality, caring and compassionate. There are, however, some people from certain groups who may experience care that is not as good. This can be because commissioners, providers and staff do not always understand or fully consider their specific needs.

Staff need to understand some of the barriers that may prevent people receiving good, personalised care at the end of their life. It is important to ensure that everyone has the same access to high quality, personalised care at the end of their lives, regardless of their diagnosis, age, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or social circumstances.

See also:

A Different Ending: Addressing Inequalities in End of Life Care Overview Report (Care Quality Commission)

A Second Class Ending: Exploring the Barriers and Championing outstanding End of Life Care for People who are Homeless (Care Quality Commission)

Elderly and End of Life Care for Muslims in the UK (Muslim Council of Britain)

5. Priorities for the Dying Person

The priorities for the dying person should focus on their needs and wishes, and those closest to them. This applies to both the planning and delivery of care; whether this be at home, in hospital or in a residential setting.

Whilst they will be individual to the person, these priorities may include:

• the possibility that a person may die within the coming days and hours is recognised and communicated clearly, decisions about care are made in accordance with the person’s needs and wishes, and these are reviewed and revised regularly;
• sensitive communication takes place between staff and the person who is dying and those important to them;
• the dying person, and those identified as important to them, are involved in decisions about treatment and care;
• the people important to the dying person are listened to and their needs are respected;
• care is tailored to the individual and delivered with compassion – with an individual care and support plan in place.

6. Consent

It should not be assumed that a person lacks mental capacity because they are in the End of Life or Dying phase. The same criteria apply to assessing mental capacity in this phase as at any other point of their life. If there is concern that a person lacks mental capacity, a Best Interests assessment should be conducted and if the outcome is that they do lack capacity, an Independent Advocate should be appointed. See also Assessing Mental Capacity: Guidance and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Procedure.

6.1 Best Interests Test

See also Best Interests Decision Making chapter

The test should be applied in the event that a person does not have mental capacity to make their own decision. It applies when a person loses capacity in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act or through loss of consciousness (temporary or permanent).

At the end of life, many decisions are made on a best interests basis in regard to palliative care and withdrawing treatment.

In the absence of a valid advance decision or health and welfare of a lasting power of attorney (LPA), the decision on which treatment should /or should not be provided rests with the health care professionals, not the relatives.

The health professional must determine what is in the person’s best interests taking all the relevant circumstances into account; both medical and non-medical.

7. Assessment, Care Planning and Review

Specialist assessments will be undertaken by agencies involved with the person, in relation to the needs that services can meet and in order to identify any gaps in care that need to be addressed. The assessment process should involve the person wherever possible, and relevant family members. This may also include a carer’s assessment.

An End of Life care and support plan should be drawn up in conjunction with the person, their relatives and other agencies incorporating relevant information from professional assessments. This will include planning for a deterioration in the person’s health, their expected health needs based on professional knowledge of the person’s individual condition, and any wishes either they or their relatives have expressed in relation to such eventuality.

The End of Life care and support plan should also detail any specific cultural or religious needs which are important to the person and / or their relatives, both during the End of Life and Dying phases, and after death. This is particularly important in order to communicate such needs to staff caring for the person, who have not been involved in their assessment, care planning or review.

Following discussions with the person and their relatives, the End of Life care and support plan should also include action to be taken in relation to administration of fluids and nutrition, and pain relief as appropriate (see Section 3, Discussions as the End of Life Approaches). Refusal to take food and drink should be the decision made by the person, not staff.

The End of Life care and support plan should be reviewed on a four weekly basis during the End of Life phase, but as soon as changes are noted in the person’s health or circumstances, the and care and support plan should be reviewed with all parties concerned. Once the person has entered the dying phase (which may be up to 14 days before death), the care and support should be reviewed on a weekly or daily basis as appropriate. Changes to the care and support should be communicated to all involved staff and relatives as appropriate, who were not directly involved in the development and review of the care and support plan.

8. Co-ordination of Care

See also NICE End of Life Care for Adults – Quality Standards

In order for the person to be able to die in dignity and peace, all services identified as required during assessment should be provided. Provision of such services, and the quality of the service provided, should be coordinated by the key worker.

The person and their relatives should be aware who the key worker and co-key worker / named nurse are, either in the service or at home. If they are at home, they should have all the necessary contact details of involved staff.

Feedback on services provided should be gathered from the person and their family, and fed in to the care and support plan review process as required.

9. Care in the Last days of Life

All involved staff are responsible for providing the best possible care for the person and their relatives in the final days of their life, as detailed in the End of Life care and support plan and depending on their job role. This should be coordinated by the key worker / named nurse, in conjunction with other involved agencies, particularly the GP and visiting nurses.

Staff visiting the person and their relatives should ensure all their needs are being met, and they are satisfied with the care and support they are getting. This is in addition to the input of the key worker / co-worker at this time.

Consideration should also be given to supporting of other people using the service, who will be aware of the serious illness and subsequent death of a fellow resident, who may also have been a friend.

10. Care after Death

Where a person dies in a hospital or residential setting, the procedures of the service in relation to responding to death should be followed. When the person dies at home, the key worker / named nurse or other first professional at the scene should follow their own agency’s procedures for dealing with the death of a person receiving care and support.

In both sets of circumstances, these will include obtaining medical confirmation of the death and issue of a death certificate, responding to the needs of relatives and providing them with necessary information – including registering the death, funeral arrangements, and bereavement services – and informing staff from other agencies who have been involved in the person’s care. When a person dies in a hospital or residential setting procedures should also include arrangements for personal property of the deceased and arrangements for removal of the body (this will depend on the circumstances of the person’s death).

11. Training and Supporting Staff

End of Life Care training should be available for all staff, but particularly for key workers / named nurses and managers. This will equip them to respond confidently and provide support to people and their relatives. This, in turn, should ensure the best possible levels of care and support and enable the person to die peacefully and with dignity, and their relatives to feel supported. Training for staff should address the process of loss: shock; denial; anger; depression; acceptance.

The death of a person can be a difficult time for staff, especially if they and their relatives have been known to staff for some time and with whom they have formed close working relationships. Support should be provided or made available by the service manager, as required.

Appendix 1: An NHS Trust and others (Respondents) v Y