Identification

Earlier identification of those individuals who may be in the last year of their life leads to earlier planning and better care. Appropriate supportive care measures can be introduced which enables earlier discussion of the person’s wishes, improves care which is aligned to their preferences and leads to fewer crises.

End of Life Care Operational System (ELCOS)

ELCOS aims to ensure that people who have been identified as possibly in the last year of life have details of their personalised care plan and preferences for care, including any Advance Care Plan available as part of their care record.

Link to ELCOS

Prompts to aid practitioners in the development of an individualised care plan

Supportive & Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT™)

The SPICT™ is used to identify people at risk of deteriorating and dying with one or more advanced conditions for palliative care needs assessment and care planning.The SPICT website allows users free downloads of SPICT™ and guides to using it in clinical practice with collaborating partners across the UK and internationally- Europe, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, S America and Africa. 

Link to SPICT Supportive & Palliative Care Indicators Tool(SPICT™)

The National Gold Standards Framework (GSF)

The National Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Centre in End of Life Care is the national training and coordinating  centre for all GSF programmes, enabling  generalist frontline staff to provide  a gold standard of care for people nearing the end of life. GSF improves the quality, coordination and organisation of care leading to better patient outcomes in line with their needs and preferences and greater cost efficiency through reducing hospitalisation. 

Access the website: The National Gold Standards Framework